• tissue engineering
• scaffolds
• Pancreatic Cancer
• Fibronectin
• biopolymers
• biomaterials
• 3D models
• tumour microenvironment

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive cancer that is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. With a low 5-year survival rate of 8%, PDAC presents significant challenges in terms of diagnosis and treatment. The tumor microenvironment of PDAC is characterized by a dense stroma, which has been associated with tumor aggressiveness and resistance. The extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, including Fibronectin, play a crucial role in the PDAC stroma and the tumor microenvironment.

In this project, we aim to investigate the impact of Fibronectin, an ECM protein, on various pancreatic cancer cell lines during chemotherapy. Our study utilizes a 3D biomimetic porous polyurethane scaffold, which provides a realistic environment for studying the interactions between the ECM and cancer cells compared with the 2D cell culture. By analyzing the effects of Fibronectin on the behavior and response of pancreatic cancer cells within this scaffold, we aim to gain insights into the role of ECM proteins in PDAC progression and therapeutic resistance.

Overall, this project aims to contribute to our understanding of the complex interplay between the ECM, tumor microenvironment, and pancreatic cancer cells, with the potential to uncover new strategies for improving the treatment of PDAC.