Ephrin inhibition disrupts stromal-cancer crosstalk and reduces metastasis in pancreatic cancer

Abstract

Cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are critical drivers of disease progression and metastasis within the pancreatic tumour microenvironment. Using a 3D spheroid model of CAF-led invasion, we identified complementary expression of ephrin family receptors (EPHB2) and ligands (EPHRINB2) between cancer cells and CAFs, implicating this bidirectional signalling family in tumour progression. Through pancreatic stellate cell-derived CAFs isolated from genetically modified mouse models, where EphrinB was either lacking or modified by a gain-of-function mutation, we identified both forward and reverse signalling to be required for invasion. In a syngeneic murine orthotopic model of pancreatic cancer, we show that first-in-class tetramerisation inhibitors of Eph/Ephrin interactions can reduce local invasion in primary tumours, and significantly decrease metastatic tumour spread across multiple organ sites. Our data highlight Ephrin signalling as a critical nexus for CAF-cancer crosstalk and establish a foundation for the clinical development of targeted EPH-EPHRIN inhibitors to counter metastatic invasion.