Development of a CXCR4 antagonistic peptide, P12, to suppress pancreatic cancer progress via enhancing T cell responses and sensitizing cells to gemcitabine

T cells and reduced fibroblasts in the tumor microenvironment, as well as increasing the toxicity of the lymphocytes to the tumor cells with upregulated blood levels of INF-γ and TNF-α. Collectively, P12+GEM decreased the tumor weight and prolonged the survival of tumor-bearing mice significantly. In conclusion, P12 is a potent and selective CXCR4 antagonist that effectively enhances anti-tumor immune responses and overcomes the gemcitabine resistance of pancreatic cancer.