Reprogramming tumor microenvironment could improve prospects for treatment of pancreatic cancer

by Leonie Kroll, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

edited by Lisa Lock , reviewed by Robert Egan

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Add to Preferred Sources CD44 (green) activates cancer-associated fibroblasts. When the molecule is inactivated (right), the cells change their shape and lose their activation state. Credit: Treffert et al./KIT Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat cancers. One reason for its resistance to therapy is the dense tissue surrounding the tumor that acts as a protective barrier and suppresses the immune response. It is a complex tissue made of supporting cells, blood vessels and immune cells—the tumor microenvironment. In pancreatic cancer, this surrounding tissue accounts for up to 90% of the tumor mass.