The combination of SPP1 knockdown and gemcitabine treatment enhances apoptosis and reduces invasiveness of pancreatic cancer cells

Abstract

Background Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is poised to be a leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Despite developing new treatment strategies, patient outcomes have not significantly improved. Chemoresistance has been implicated as a major contributor to ineffective treatments observed with studies suggesting combination therapy targeting multiple pathways. This study explored dysregulated genes in tumours of PDAC patients to identify targets which could be used effectively in combination with conventional therapy against cancer cells.