Evaluating the Ferroptosis Potential and Mechanistic Variability of the Ferronucleoside TUC1 in the MIAPaCa2 Cell Line

Abstract

Addressing the therapeutic challenges of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), known for its rapid resistance to treatments like gemcitabine, we examined the capabilities of ferronucleoside 1-(S,Rp) TUC1. Notably, TUC1 demonstrated compelling efficacy against the gemcitabine-resistant MIAPaCa2 cells, closely matching cisplatin. Using MTT assays and accounting for variables like cell confluency and treatment duration, we assessed TUC1's cytotoxic impact. While the outcomes were on par with cisplatin, they varied across experimental conditions. Interestingly, based on cell confluency, we identified apoptosis as the primary cell death pathway, a departure from the initially hypothesized ferroptosis. This study highlights TUC1's complex mechanisms, underlining the need for more comprehensive research to further understand its effects.