Wilms Tumor 1-Expressing Stromal Cells Promote Pancreatic Cancer Progression.

ABSTRACT: Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) are a prevalent cell population in the microenvironment of pancreatic cancer. The pancreas harbors diverse resident cell populations that can differentiate into CAFs, and the cell of origin might contribute to CAF heterogeneity. Expression of the transcription factor Wilms tumor 1 (WT1) marks mesothelial cells as well as a transcriptionally distinct population of fibroblasts in the normal pancreas. WT1 expression also identifies a population of CAFs in both human and mouse pancreatic cancers. In this study, we investigated the contribution of WT1+ mesenchymal cells to CAF populations and evaluated the functional role of WT1+ stromal cells in pancreatic cancer. Lineage tracing revealed that WT1+ cells expand in pancreatic cancer, giving rise to a populati

SUBMITTER: Bischoff AC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12809115 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature