Multiple lines of evidence suggest that the Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathway is aberrantly reactivated in pancreatic cancer stem cells (CSCs). The objectives of this study were to examine the molecular mechanisms by which GANT-61 (Gli transcription factor inhibitor) regulates stem cell characteristics and tumor growth. Effects of GANT-61 on CSC’s viability, spheroid formation, apoptosis, DNA-binding and transcriptional activities, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) were measured. Humanized NOD/SCID/IL2Rgammanull mice were used to examine the effects of GANT-61 on CSC’s tumor growth. GANT-61 inhibited cell viability, spheroid formation, and Gli-DNA binding and transcriptional activities, and induced apoptosis by activation of caspase-3 and cleavage of Poly-ADP ribose Polymerase (PARP). GANT-61 increased the expression of TRAIL-R1/DR4, TRAIL-R2/DR5 and Fas, and decreased expression of PDGFRα and Bcl-2. GANT-61 also suppressed EMT by up-regulating E-cadherin and inhibiting N-cadherin and transcription factors Snail, Slug and Zeb1. In addition, GANT-61 inhibited pluripotency maintaining factors Nanog, Oct4, Sox-2 and cMyc. Suppression of both Gli1 plus Gli2 by shRNA mimicked the changes in cell viability, spheroid formation, apoptosis and gene expression observed in GANT-61-treated pancreatic CSCs. Furthermore, GANT-61 inhibited CSC tumor growth which was associated with up-regulation of DR4 and DR5 expression, and suppression of Gli1, Gli2, Bcl-2, CCND2 and Zeb1 expression in tumor tissues derived from NOD/SCID IL2Rγ null mice. Our data highlight the importance of Shh pathway for self-renewal and metastasis of pancreatic CSCs, and also suggest Gli as a therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer in eliminating CSCs.

Activation of the sonic hedgehog (Shh) pathway is required for the growth of numerous tissues and organs and recent evidence indicates that this pathway is often recruited to stimulate growth of cancer stem cells (CSCs) and to orchestrate the reprogramming of cancer cells via epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT). The objectives of this study were to examine the molecular mechanisms by which (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), an active compound in green tea, inhibits self-renewal capacity of pancreatic CSCs, and synergizes with quercetin, a major polyphenol and flavonoid commonly detected in many fruits and vegetables. Our data demonstrated that EGCG inhibited the expression of pluripotency maintaining transcription factors (Nanog, c-Myc and Oct-4), and self-renewal capacity of pancreatic CSCs. Inhibition of Nanog by shRNA enhanced the inhibitory effects of EGCG on self-renewal capacity of CSCs. EGCG inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis by inhibiting the expression of Bcl-2 and XIAP, and activating caspase-3. Interestingly, EGCG also inhibited the components of Shh pathway (smoothened, patched, Gli1 and Gli2) and Gli transcriptional activity. Furthermore, EGCG inhibited EMT by inhibiting the expression of Snail, Slug and ZEB1, and TCF/LEF transcriptional activity, which correlated with significantly reduced CSC’s migration and invasion, suggesting the blockade of signaling involved in early metastasis. Furthermore, combination of quercetin with EGCG had synergistic inhibitory effects on self-renewal capacity of CSCs through attenuation of TCF/LEF and Gli activities. Since aberrant Shh signaling occurs in pancreatic tumorigenesis, therapeutics that target Shh pathway may improve the outcomes of patients with pancreatic cancer by targeting CSCs.

BackgroundRecent evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies has demonstrated that aberrant reactivation of the Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) signaling pathway regulates genes that promote cellular proliferation in various human cancer stem cells (CSCs). Therefore, the chemotherapeutic agents that inhibit activation of Gli transcription factors have emerged as promising novel therapeutic drugs for pancreatic cancer. GDC-0449 (Vismodegib), orally administrable molecule belonging to the 2-arylpyridine class, inhibits SHH signaling pathway by blocking the activities of Smoothened. The objectives of this study were to examine the molecular mechanisms by which GDC-0449 regulates human pancreatic CSC characteristics in vitro.Methodology/Principal FindingsGDC-0499 inhibited cell viability and induced apoptosis in three pancreatic cancer cell lines and pancreatic CSCs. This inhibitor also suppressed cell viability, Gli-DNA binding and transcriptional activities, and induced apoptosis through caspase-3 activation and PARP cleavage in pancreatic CSCs. GDC-0449-induced apoptosis in CSCs showed increased Fas expression and decreased expression of PDGFRα. Furthermore, Bcl-2 was down-regulated whereas TRAIL-R1/DR4 and TRAIL-R2/DR5 expression was increased following the treatment of CSCs with GDC-0449. Suppression of both Gli1 plus Gli2 by shRNA mimicked the changes in cell viability, spheroid formation, apoptosis and gene expression observed in GDC-0449-treated pancreatic CSCs. Thus, activated Gli genes repress DRs and Fas expressions, up-regulate the expressions of Bcl-2 and PDGFRα and facilitate cell survival.Conclusions/SignificanceThese data suggest that GDC-0499 can be used for the management of pancreatic cancer by targeting pancreatic CSCs.