Pancreatic tumor microenvironment (PTME)

The pancreatic tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex, heterogeneous ecosystem surrounding pancreatic cancer cells, primarily characterized by a dense desmoplastic reaction (PMID: 30610214). This stroma consists of various cell types, including pancreatic stellate cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, and immunosuppressive immune cells, embedded within a dense extracellular matrix rich in collagen and hyaluronan. The TME acts as both a physical and functional barrier, creating high interstitial fluid pressure that collapses blood vessels and prevents the effective delivery of chemotherapeutic agents (PMID: 22464327). Furthermore, it creates a profoundly immunosuppressive cold environment that shields the tumor from T-cell-mediated destruction. While numerous therapies have attempted to target the TME by depleting the stroma or modulating immune signaling, these efforts have faced significant challenges, including the discovery that some stromal components may actually restrain tumor growth, leading to paradoxical progression when removed (PMID: 24857701).

Other names

Pancreatic cancer stromaPancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma microenvironmentDesmoplastic stromaPancreatic TME

Therapeutic strategies involve stromal depletion, extracellular matrix degradation, inhibition of immunosuppressive cell recruitment, and reprogramming of cancer-associated fibroblasts to improve drug delivery and immune infiltration.