Publications by authors named "P Levasseur"
Article Synopsis
- Metastatic progression in cancers worsens survival rates and complicates treatment, prompting the development of an mRNA therapy aimed at inhibiting metastasis by targeting activin A, a key factor in metastasis and cachexia.
- This therapy uses follistatin mRNA lipid nanoparticles to effectively reduce activin A levels, resulting in lowered tumor burden and less metastatic spread in a mouse model of head and neck cancer.
- Treated mice showed less metastatic occurrence, preserved muscle and fat tissue, and a good safety profile, suggesting the therapy could be widely applicable across different cancers due to the common overexpression of activin A.
Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy often experience anorexia and weight loss that substantially deteriorates overall health, reduces treatment tolerance and quality of life, and worsens oncologic outcomes. There are currently few effective therapeutic options to mitigate these side effects. The central melanocortin system, which plays a pivotal role in regulating appetite and energy homeostasis, presents a logical target for treating anorexia and weight loss.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHypothalamic inflammation often coincides with cancer and cachexia-anorexia. Prior work established the significance of tumor-derived inflammatory factors in triggering hypothalamic inflammation, yet the precise mechanisms remained elusive. Here, we demonstrate that prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), produced in the tumor via cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), plays a pivotal role in this context.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTumor immune resistance is recognized as a contributor to low survivorship in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We developed a novel murine model of spontaneous PDAC clearance, generated by overexpressing interleukin-6 (IL-6) in orthotopically implanted PDAC cancer cells (OT-PDAC). Circulating IL-6 was 100-fold higher in OT-PDAC than in OT-PDAC mice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The study focuses on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC) and highlights the need for early detection, suggesting biomarkers like GDF15 and LCN2 could be valuable in this context.
- Analysis of circulating levels of GDF15 and LCN2 in PDAC patients showed higher concentrations compared to healthy controls and those with benign diseases, with GDF15 linked to disease progression and mortality.
- Findings indicate that GDF15 is a promising biomarker for early detection and prognosis of PDAC, while LCN2 could enhance diagnostic accuracy when combined with GDF15 or CA19-9.