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Lying in Wait

Pancreatic cancer cells evade the immune system in the liver allowing them to form metastases

26 October 2018

Lying in Wait

Pancreatic is one of the most deadly forms of cancer, in part because most cases aren’t found until after the initial tumour has spread around the body and become unmanageable. So it’s all the more frustrating that even in the rare cases when it’s caught early and completely removed by surgery, the cancer tends to inexplicably reappear in patients’ livers. A new study might explain why. Although the liver appears cancer-free at the time of surgery, it harbours hidden passengers in the form of dormant cancer cells (red, right, compared to the primary tumour, left). These migrant cells evade the body’s defences by not expressing key molecules the immune system targets (green). Following surgery the liver’s immune system is distracted and depleted, presenting an opportunity for the dormant cells to rouse to action. Spotting their deception is the first step in blocking it in future.

Written by Anthony Lewis

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BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

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