Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers, with less than 10% of patients surviving five years after diagnosis. In pancreatic cancer, nerves spread throughout the tumor, and they are believed to play a crucial role in the cancer's growth and spread. But how exactly do these nerves help the cancer progress? This question has been difficult to answer because the cell nuclei of nerves, which contain the essential DNA and mRNA, are located far from the tumor, in clusters called ganglia. To solve this mystery, we developed a new method called "Trace-n-seq." This innovative approach traces the nerves from the tumor back to their origin in the ganglia. We then isolate the individual nerve cells that innervate the cancer and analyze their genetic material to understand how they interact with the cancer. The main goal of our research is to uncover how nerves contribute to the growth and treatment resistance of pancreatic cancer. With this knowledge, we aim to design novel therapies that disrupt the interaction of nerves with pancreatic cancer activity to combat this deadly disease more effectively.

Here you can find further information.