TY - JOUR T1 - An Adaptation System to Avoid Apoptosis <em>via</em> Autophagy Under Hypoxic Conditions in Pancreatic Cancer Cells JF - Anticancer Research JO - Anticancer Res SP - 4927 LP - 4934 VL - 37 IS - 9 AU - SATOSHI OWADA AU - KANAKO ITO AU - HITOSHI ENDO AU - YUKARI SHIDA AU - CHISA OKADA AU - TAKAHIRO NEZU AU - MASAYUKI TATEMICHI Y1 - 2017/09/01 UR - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/37/9/4927.abstract N2 - 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. ER -