ECM Stiffness-Induced Redox Signaling Enhances Stearoyl Gemcitabine Efficacy in Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains one of the most lethal malignancies, largely due to its dense fibrotic stroma that promotes drug resistance and tumor progression. While patient-derived organoids (PDOs) have emerged as promising tools for modeling PDAC and evaluating therapeutic responses, the current PDO models grown in soft matrices fail to replicate the tumor's stiff extracellular matrix (ECM), limiting their predictive value for advanced disease.

We developed a biomimetic model using gelatin-based matrices of varying stiffness, achieved through modulated transglutaminase crosslinking rates, to better simulate the desmoplastic PDAC microenvironment. Using this platform, we investigated organoid morphology, proliferation, and chemoresistance to gemcitabine (Gem) and its lipophilic derivative, 4-N-stearoyl gemcitabine (Gem-S). Mechanistic studies focused on the interplay between ECM stiffness, hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) expression, and the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway in drug resistance.

PDAC organoids in stiffer matrices demonstrated enhanced stemness features, including rounded morphology and elevated cancer stem cell (CSC) marker expression. Matrix stiffness-induced gemcitabine resistance correlated with the upregulation of ABC transporters and oxidative stress adaptive responses. While gemcitabine activated Nrf2 expression, promoting oxidative stress mitigation, Gem-S suppressed Nrf2 levels and induced oxidative stress, leading to increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and enhanced cell death. Both compounds reduced HIF expression, with gemcitabine showing greater efficacy.

Our study reveals ECM stiffness as a critical mediator of PDAC chemoresistance through the promotion of stemness and modulation of Nrf2 and HIF pathways. Gem-S demonstrates promise in overcoming gemcitabine resistance by disrupting Nrf2-mediated adaptive responses and inducing oxidative stress. These findings underscore the importance of biomechanically accurate tumor models and suggest that dual targeting of mechanical and oxidative stress pathways may improve PDAC treatment outcomes.