PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - SATOSHI OWADA
AU  - KANAKO ITO
AU  - HITOSHI ENDO
AU  - YUKARI SHIDA
AU  - CHISA OKADA
AU  - TAKAHIRO NEZU
AU  - MASAYUKI TATEMICHI
TI  - An Adaptation System to Avoid Apoptosis <em>via</em> Autophagy Under Hypoxic Conditions in Pancreatic Cancer Cells
DP  - 2017 Sep 01
TA  - Anticancer Research
PG  - 4927--4934
VI  - 37
IP  - 9
4099  - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/37/9/4927.short
4100  - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/37/9/4927.full
SO  - Anticancer Res2017 Sep 01; 37
AB  - Background/Aim: Pancreatic cancer tissue is a hypoxic environment resistant to anticancer drugs. This study examined the role of autophagy as a response to hypoxic stress in pancreatic cancer. Materials and Methods: Pancreatic cell lines (PANC-1, BxPC-3 and AsPC-1) were exposed to hypoxic conditions using cobalt chloride, a hypoxia-mimicking agent. Protein expression and cytotoxicity assays were performed to determine the effect of hypoxia on autophagy. Results: When pancreatic cancer cells were exposed to hypoxia, autophagy was induced. The autophagy-inducing signal was dependent on the AMPK pathway. Inhibition of autophagy in a hypoxic state induced a remarkable cytotoxicity and enhanced apoptosis. When an AMPK inhibitor was added, cytotoxicity was observed in the hypoxic environment. Conclusion: The induced autophagy, dependent on the AMPK pathway, is a necessary survival strategy adopted by pancreatic cancer cells to adapt to hypoxic stress, and could be an attractive target for drug development.