Figure 4. MRK-003 treatment modulates the population of tumor initiating cells in PDAC lines.

PDAC cells were treated with MRK-003 (2 μM or 5μM) for 48 hours. The cells were harvested and stained for FACS analysis.

A: Representative data for CD44⁺CD24⁺ and ALDH⁺ population in MRK-003 treated in Capan-1 cells showing reduction of CD44⁺CD24⁺ and ALDH⁺ cells compared to vehicle treated cells.

B and C: Percentage of CD44⁺CD24⁺ and ALDH⁺ population respectively in four pancreatic cancer cell lines treated with MRK-003 for 48 hours. Dose-dependent reduction in the proportion of CD44⁺CD24⁺ and ALDH⁺ cells were noticed in two sensitive cell lines (Capan-1 and Pa03C). How ever, MRK-003 increased the proportion of CD44⁺CD24⁺ and ALDH⁺ cells in Pa16C and Pa29C. Experiment were conducted in triplicate, N=3, error bars SD.