Researchers have found that the nervous system helps pancreatic cancer develop much earlier than scientists once believed, even before full tumors form.
They discovered that certain support cells around early lesions, called myCAFs, send signals that attract nerve fibers. These nerves do not just appear later to help cancer spread—they are involved from the beginning and actively support tumor growth.
Using advanced 3D imaging, researchers were able to see a dense, interconnected network of nerves woven throughout precancerous tissue. This provided a clearer picture than older 2D methods, which only showed scattered spots.
The team also found a harmful feedback loop. MyCAFs attract nerves, and the nerves release a chemical messenger called norepinephrine. This triggers a surge of calcium inside the myCAFs, which promotes more tumor growth and draws in even more nerves. The cycle continues, helping the cancer develop.
In mouse studies, blocking these nerve signals reduced tumor growth by nearly 50%, showing that disrupting this communication could slow the disease.
The findings suggest that future treatments might combine chemotherapy with drugs such as doxazosin to block the interaction between nerves and fibroblasts. Researchers are now working to better target these signals to improve long-term outcomes for patients.