Fig. 4. 3-IAA is clinically relevant in PDAC.
a, SPF mice were orthotopically injected with Hy19636 cells, treated as indicated and their overall survival is depicted in the Kaplan-Meier estimator (untreated n = 12; FIRINOX n = 14; 3-IAA n = 9; 3-IAA + FIRINOX n = 10). b–d, The 3-IAA serum concentration of patients from the Hamburg cohort was measured by chemiluminescence immune assay (CLIA) and correlated with the ratio of blood neutrophil (b), lymphocyte (c) or monocyte (d) counts at the time point of lowest overall leukocyte count (within the first three months of chemotherapy) and counts before start of chemotherapy. e, Tumour size as measured in CT scans was correlated with PFS in patients from the Hamburg cohort. f,g, 3-IAA serum concentration after two to three chemotherapy cycles of patients from the Hamburg cohort was correlated with PFS (f) or overall survival (g). One patient was excluded from f, because the patient’s cancer did not progress before the event of death. Patients represented with open circles are still alive and therefore excluded from the correlative analysis in g. h,i, The 3-IAA serum concentration before the start of treatment of patients from the Munich cohort was correlated with PFS (h) or overall survival (i). Each symbol represents one patient. Two independent experiments were pooled (a). Mean and 95% confidence intervals. P values are indicated and were determined by log-rank Mantel–Cox test (a) or simple linear regression and Pearson’s r (b–i).