TIGP (BIO)—Single-cell transcriptomics reveals growth factor signaling in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors

Abstract

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms arising from the endocrine cells of the pancreas which exhibit a wide range of clinical behaviors, including variable growth rates and treatment responses, necessitating a deeper understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms governing their growth. Dysregulated growth factor (GF) signaling pathways have been implicated in various cancers, however, the specific GFs influencing PNET growth remain poorly understood. We employ single-cell RNA sequencing to comprehensively profile the transcriptomes of individual cells within PNETs to characterize the molecular diversity of tumor cells and their neighboring microenvironment. We identified GF-enriched cell clusters, coupled with pathway enrichment and ligand-receptor interaction analyses, suggesting that IGF2 and VEGF mediated signaling may be a critical driver of tumor growth and angiogenesis in PNETs. These findings provide a foundation for further mechanistic studies and potential therapeutic interventions targeting GF-related pathways to mitigate the growth and progression of PNETs.

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