Fig. 4: Biomarkers for STARPAC clinical trial. | Nature Communications

Fig. 4: Biomarkers for STARPAC clinical trial.

From: Phase I clinical trial repurposing all-trans retinoic acid as a stromal targeting agent for pancreatic cancer

Fig. 4

a MRI sequences as indicated with primary pancreatic tumor (red arrow) and liver metastasis (white arrow) in T2-weighted images for localization, both lesions demonstrating change in the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) within these tumors, after just 1 month of treatment, indicative of an increased mobile water content due to reduction in dense cellularity with a rim of peripheral restricted tissue represents residual tumor. Summary statistics of changes in tumor volume (b), ADC values (c), and D values (d) between pre-treatment (baseline) and post-first-cycle (days 21–28) of treatment. Summary data as mean ± SEM. Data points represent values from individual patients. Two-tailed Wilcoxon matched-pairs sign-rank test. e Representative images of co-immuno-fluorescent images of pancreatic cancer biopsies prior to commencement of treatment, to assess prevalence of cellular retinoic acid-binding protein 2 (CRABP2) and fatty acid-binding protein 5 (FABP5), as indicated with co-staining with either cytokeratin (CK) or alpha-smooth muscle actin (αSMA) respectively, to demonstrate a 3+ stain for both CRABP2 and FABP5 in cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF). Scale bar: 100 µm. f, g These quantifications (range 0 to 3+) were then assessed for all evaluable biopsies (n = 15) from single representative image using appropriate tissue controls and categorized according to disease control/progressive disease. Chi-square test. d.f. = 3. h Measurement of serum PTX3 by ELISA (GCLP standards, CV 0.17) in patients before (Base) and 5  h after (Post) taking ATRA in the first cycle (C1) on days 1, 8, and 15. i Measurement of serum PTX3 5 h after taking ATRA on the first day of each cycle (1–6). Each point represents an individual patient. h, i Box (median ± interquartile range) and whisker (full range). Individual measurements per patient represented as a dot derived from mean of two readings. Two-tailed Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test.

Back to article page