Knockdown or inhibition of CDK4 sensitizes pancreatic cancer cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis

Knockdown or inhibition of CDK4 sensitizes pancreatic cancer cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis Aims: Pancreatic cancer is lethal because of its poor response to most treatment modalities. The key factor preventing responses to therapies is the resistance of pancreatic cancer to apoptotic stimuli. The resistance to apoptosis is due to activation or upregulation of anti-apoptotic proteins. Furthermore, the distribution of cells in the different phases of the cell cycle is known to confer sensitivity or resistance towards apoptosis. In this regard, almost all genetic changes occuring in pancreatic cancer lead to an…