Tumor Microenvironment in Pancreatic Cancer Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Resistance

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) features a prominent stromal microenvironment with remarkable cellular and spatial heterogeneity that meaningfully impacts disease biology and treatment resistance. Recent advances in tissue imaging capabilities, single-cell analytics, and disease modeling have shed light on organizing principles that shape the stromal complexity of PDAC tumors. These insights into the functional and spatial dependencies that coordinate cancer cell biology and the relationships that exist between cells and extracellular matrix components present in tumors are expected to unveil therapeutic vulnerabilities. We review recent advances in the field and discuss current understandings of mechanisms by which the tumor microenvironment shapes PDAC pathogenesis and therapy resistance.

Automated summary

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a diverse stromal microenvironment that plays a significant role in disease biology and treatment resistance. Recent advancements in imaging, single-cell analytics, and disease modeling have provided insights into the complexity of PDAC tumors. Understanding the functional and spatial dependencies between cancer cells and extracellular matrix components can reveal therapeutic vulnerabilities.