Pancreatic cancer fibrosis activates protumorigenic Schwann cells through a nuclear mechanosensing mechanism

The authors investigate how Schwann cells (SCs) are activated in the fibrotic microenvironment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), given the known roles of fibrosis and tumor innervation in cancer lethality. They find that increased stiffness in the stroma correlates with heightened SC activation through a nuclear mechanosensing mechanism, specifically involving c-Jun phosphorylation and the enzyme phospholipase A2. This study suggests that pancreatic fibrosis alone can activate SCs, potentially influencing therapeutic strategies targeting the tumor microenvironment in PDAC.