Pancreatic cancer secretly hijacks nerves through a hidden protein pathway, spreading silently long before doctors detect it.

Story Snapshot

• Brazilian scientists uncover periostin protein from stellate cells that remodels tissue for early nerve invasion.
• Over half of cases show perineural invasion at early stages, missed until surgery.
• Discovery shifts the view of tumors from isolated masses to manipulative ecosystems.
• Periostin blockers in trials for other cancers offer an immediate path to pancreatic treatments.
• Precision medicine targets could extend survival in this deadly disease.

Periostin Enables Silent Nerve Invasion

Pancreatic stellate cells produce periostin, a protein that remodels the extracellular matrix around tumors. Tumor cells exploit this remodeling to infiltrate nearby nerves, a process called perineural invasion. Brazilian researchers at the Center for Research on Inflammatory Diseases analyzed 24 pancreatic cancer samples using single-cell gene expression tools. They published findings in Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology in January 2026. This mechanism explains the cancer’s aggressive early spread.

Pancreatic Cancer’s Deadly Profile

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma accounts for 90% of cases, arising in glandular cells producing pancreatic juice. Death rates nearly match diagnosis rates, with 66,000 new U.S. cases yearly. KRAS mutations drive over 90% of tumors, creating desmoplastic fibrosis that shields cancer from chemotherapy. Perineural invasion occurs in more than half of early-stage cases but evades detection until post-surgical biopsy. Stellate cells actively reprogram the tumor microenvironment, turning healthy tissue into invasion highways.

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Research Team’s Breakthrough Methods

Helder Nakaya, principal investigator at Einstein Israelite Hospital and University of São Paulo, led the study with Carlos Alberto de Carvalho Fraga. Advanced genomic analysis mapped individual cell activity in tumor tissue. Public databases allowed reanalysis of prior data, revealing periostin’s overlooked role. Nakaya stated periostin paves invasion paths. The team demonstrated tumors function as ecosystems manipulating surroundings, not isolated entities. Methodological rigor across 24 samples establishes credibility.

Therapeutic Targets and Precision Medicine

Blocking periostin or stellate cells could halt early invasion and metastasis. Antibodies targeting periostin already undergo trials for breast and intestinal cancers, accelerating translation to pancreatic use. Researcher Uson noted drugs against stellate cells would prevent invasive capacity. FDA reviews tumor treating fields therapy for advanced cases. Precision medicine targets molecular changes over tumor type, aligning with conservative values of practical, evidence-based innovation over unproven interventions.

Scientists find hidden pathways pancreatic cancer uses to spread

Researchers have discovered how pancreatic cancer reprograms its surroundings to spread quickly and stealthily. By using a protein called periostin, the tumor remodels nearby tissue and invades nerves, which helps…

— The Something Guy 🇿🇦 (@thesomethingguy) January 30, 2026

Short-Term and Long-Term Impacts

Short-term, research accelerates periostin inhibitor trials and clinician awareness of perineural risks. Pharmaceutical firms eye new markets, potentially cutting healthcare costs. Long-term, successful therapies shift paradigms from blunt chemo to targeted attacks, extending survival. Broader applications to other perineural cancers amplify value. Brazilian leadership bolsters global research, emphasizing self-reliant science. Patients gain hope against a disease claiming lives unchecked.

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Sources:

Scientists find hidden pathways pancreatic cancer uses to spread – ScienceDaily
Protein periostin enables pancreatic cancer nerve invasion – Medical Xpress
Potential tumour-suppressing gene identified in pancreatic cancer – eCancer
Research Spotlight: A Look Ahead at Pancreatic Cancer in 2026 – PanCAN
Scientists move closer to better pancreatic cancer treatments – UCR News
Why Pancreatic Cancer Is So Deadly: New Study Reveals Hidden Invasion Pathway – SciTechDaily
UCLA scientists develop one-product-fits-all immunotherapy – UCLA Health