A new genus from Borneo, Borneocola Y.Y.Sam, is described here. The genus currently contains eight species previously classified as members of the Scaphochlamys Baker. The finding is based on the results of the morphological and molecular studies of Scaphochlamys throughout its geographical range and its closely allied sister groups, Distichochlamys M.F.Newman and Myxochlamys A.Takano & Nagam. Borneocola is nested within the tribe Zingibereae and its monophyly is strongly supported by both ITS and matK sequence data. The genus is characterised by several thin, translucent and marcescent floral bracts, absence of coloured streaks on the labellum and capitate stigma with two dorsal knobs. The genus is distributed in northwest Borneo and all species are very rare and highly endemic.
Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive cancer with a high chance of recurrence, limited treatment options, and poor prognosis. A recent study has classified pancreatic cancers into four molecular subtypes: (1) squamous, (2) immunogenic, (3) pancreatic progenitor and (4) aberrantly differentiated endocrine exocrine. Among all the subtypes, the squamous subtype has the worst prognosis. This study aims to utilize large scale genomic datasets and computational systems biology to identify potential drugs targeting the squamous subtype of PDAC through combination therapy. Using the transcriptomic data available from the International Cancer Genome Consortium, Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia and Connectivity Map, we identified 26 small molecules that could target the squamous subtype of PDAC. Among them include inhibitors targeting the SRC proto-oncogene (SRC) and the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1/2 (MEK1/2). Further analyses demonstrated that the SRC inhibitors (dasatinib and PP2) and MEK1/2 inhibitor (pimasertib) synergized gemcitabine sensitivity specifically in the squamous subtype of PDAC cells (SW1990 and BxPC3), but not in the PDAC progenitor cells (AsPC1). Further analysis revealed that the synergistic effects are dependent on SRC or MEK1/2 activities, as overexpression of SRC or MEK1/2 completely abrogated the synergistic effects SRC inhibitors (dasatinib and PP2) and MEK1/2 inhibitor (pimasertib). In contrast, no significant toxicity was observed in the MRC5 human lung fibroblast and ARPE-19 human retinal pigment epithelial cells. Together, our findings suggest that combinations of SRC or MEK inhibitors with gemcitabine possess synergistic effects on the squamous subtype of PDAC cells and warrant further investigation.