UNC5B Identified as Key Regulator in Pancreatic Cancer Metastasis
Researchers have identified the axon guidance receptor UNC5B as a central regulator of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) metastasis. The study, conducted using genetically engineered mouse models, demonstrated that loss of UNC5B significantly reduces metastatic spread, tumor proliferation, and intratumoral necrosis, confining tumors to the pancreas. UNC5B drives epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and invasion through the activation of the SRC-ZEB1 axis. The findings suggest that UNC5B is highly expressed in PDAC and plays a crucial role in maintaining mesenchymal features, which are associated with aggressive tumor behavior. 
