The complex nature of tumors not only makes them difficult to study in the lab but problematic when developing therapies to combat their growth. Visualizing altered gene expression within the tumor with spatial context often provides the first link to cellular function and potential biomarker identification. Traditional methods of analyzing gene expression, such as RT-PCR and microarrays, often fail to detect clinically relevant responses due to extraction based methodologies. When studying aggressive cancers such as pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the sensitivity and spatial resolution provided by in situ hybridization is essential to identifying critical changes in tumor cells that may aid the drug discovery process.
In this GEN webinar, we will hear about new PDAC research showing that the cytokine leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) key paracrine factor from activated pancreatic stellate cells acting on cancer cells. Moreover, our expert panelist from the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, Yu Shi, PhD, will also describe how LIF promotes PDAC progression and facilitates its chemoresistance at advanced stages, as well as the potential for LIF as an interventional target for PDAC therapy.
Watch the On-Demand Version Here
