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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 11 April 2025
Objectives/Goals: Bacterial dysbiosis has emerged as an accomplice in the progression of many cancers. The pancreas microbiome changes in pancreatic cancer patients. The mechanisms via which components of the microbiome regulate tumor growth is unclear. We seek to determine if bacterial dysbiosis influences cancer cell behavior thereby promoting tumor progression. Methods/Study Population: We performed immunohistochemistry for lipopolysaccharide and observed bacteria preferentially located in close proximity to cancer cells. We utilized an in vitro cell culture system and in vivo mouse models, in the presence and absence of gut bacteria, to assess the effect of bacteria and bacterial metabolites on pro-tumorigenic signaling and transcriptional changes in the cancer cell. We analyzed cancer cells and epithelial cells using RNA sequencing, flow cytometry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We also used targeted metabolomics to identify bacterial and cancer cell produced metabolites. Results/Anticipated Results: We found microbial dysbiosis can induce proliferation, an inflammatory response and an increase in tryptophan metabolism via the kynurenine pathway in the pancreatic cancer cell. Along with upregulated expression of IDO1 in vivo, we observe an increase in nicotinic adenine mononucleotide. Also, we observe an increase in nicotinic acid in vitro and nicotinic adenine dinucleotide within the cancer cell compartment in the presence of bacteria and bacteria conditioned media. Due to the critical role in many vital pathways of cell survival, NAD+ production is thought to play a significant role in cancer progression. Nicotinic acid can stimulate NAD production to protect cells from cell death. Discussion/Significance of Impact: Pancreatic cancer is associated with a distinct tumor microbiome and ablation slows disease progression. Our data delineate mechanisms via which microbes modulate the pancreatic cancer cell and provide insight into therapeutic strategies for gut microbial modulation in treating pancreatic cancer.