Decoding the Nerve-Tumor Connection in Pancreatic Cancer

A groundbreaking study published in Nature introduces a novel technique called "Trace-n-seq," designed to characterize neurons interacting with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) at single-cell resolution. By analyzing over 5,000 sympathetic and sensory neurons innervating either healthy pancreas tissue or PDAC, researchers identified unique neuronal subtypes and specific molecular profiles associated with pancreatic cancer, pancreatitis, and melanoma metastasis. They discovered a complex "neuro-cancer-microenvironment interactome," illustrating how cancer actively reprograms neurons. Additionally, the study demonstrated that pharmacological denervation creates a more proinflammatory tumor microenvironment and boosts the efficacy of immune-checkpoint inhibitors. Combining chemotherapy with sympathetic denervation further suppressed tumor growth, revealing promising therapeutic strategies for pancreatic cancer treatment.