Extracellular matrix architecture promotes immunosuppressive microenvironments in pancreatic cancer.

ABSTRACT: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is an aggressive cancer with poor clinical outcomes, due in part to altered fibrotic environments and striking immune dysfunction. Physical properties within tumors, such as aligned extracellular matrix (ECM) fiber architectures, are fundamental to cancer progression and outcome. However, the influence of ECM alignment on immune cell localization and function within tumors, particularly PDA, remains largely unexplored. Here, analysis of mouse and human PDA reveal an inextricable link between collagen architecture and the distribution of immunosuppressive macrophages in both early preinvasive disease and invasive carcinomas. In vitro characterization of primary macrophages demonstrates alignment alone is sufficient to induce elongation, polarization, a

SUBMITTER: Callaway MK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12536408 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature