Fig. 3.

Dual-targeting of Ref-1/APE1 and Jak/STAT signaling inhibits PDAC tumor growth in a 3D co-culture model. a Low passage patient-derived tumor cells, Pa03C were grown in 3D cultures in the presence and absence of CAFs. Spheroids were treated with Ruxolitinib alone (blue curve) and in combination with APX3330 (40 μM, red curve), and the area of tumor (red) and CAF19#1 (green) were quantified following 12 days in culture, n = 4; fold change refers to comparison of drug-treated vs. media only in the tumor alone spheroids. b Confirmation of inhibition of STAT3 activation was done via immunoblotting for pSTAT3 Y705 residue after 4 h of Ruxolitinib treatment (12.5 μM) in the 3D assay 8–10 days post plating. Total STAT3 protein is provided as a loading control and reference for the levels of STAT3 in both cell types. Representative western blot is shown from an n of 3