Investigating how tumours change the way cells communicate to support pancreatic cancer growth

The challenge

Pancreatic cancer tumours are surrounded by a complex network of non-cancerous cells and tissues known as the tumour microenvironment. This is made up of cells including immune cells, structural cells such as fibroblasts and blood vessels. Cancer cells and cells from the tumour microenvironment are constantly communicating with each other, and these interactions can either support or prevent tumour growth.

Fibroblasts are one important type of cell found in the tumour microenvironment. These cells provide structural support for tissues and play a major role in how pancreatic cancer tumours grow and develop. Fibroblasts can help cancer spread to other parts of the body, and can also influence how immune cells behave and respond to the tumour. Normally, the immune system would help the body recognise and destroy cancer cells, preventing tumours from growing. However, under some conditions, they can be changed by the tumour so that they support cancer growth and survival.

Dr Yip’s previous research suggests that in pancreatic cancer, immune cells called ILC-2 cells become closely associated with fibroblasts and this interaction causes the fibroblasts to change so that they support cancer growth. This interaction between immune cells and fibroblasts is thought to happen from the earliest stages of pancreatic cancer.

The project

This project will investigate how fibroblasts interact with ILC-2 immune cells in the tumour microenvironment from the earliest stages of pancreatic cancer, and how this interaction helps support the tumour to grow.

Dr Yip will label fibroblasts with a fluorescent marker and use imaging techniques to see how they behave as cancer develops, for example how they move inside the tumour and support cancer growth. He will also investigate how the activities inside the cells change to adapt to this new role, and whether the interaction of ILC-2 and fibroblasts can be blocked by drugs.

The hope

Interactions between immune cells and fibroblasts have been shown to be critical in promoting disease in other organs. For example, in lung cancer, fibroblasts interact with immune cells to reduce immune system activity in the environment around the tumour, supporting tumour growth. This study aims to find out whether immune cells and fibroblasts also help to promote tumour growth in pancreatic cancer. If so, the results of this study could shed new light on the early biology and progression of pancreatic cancer and may help improve both the treatment and early detection of this devastating disease.