Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42120379›Full record

ArticleNature communications2026

Tumor-derived GDF15 induces CCN3⁺ Schwann cells to promote cancer pain in pancreatic cancer.

Guojun Chen, Weicheng Lu, Meng Liu, Qingqing Ye, Yixin Xu, Yanqun Zhang, Xiangna Guo, Yaqi Ye, Xiaohua Yang, Xiaolin Luo and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Guojun Chen *Department of Anesthesiology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0006-0344-7467
Weicheng Lu *Department of Anesthesiology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
Meng Liu *Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, Guangzhou, China.
Qingqing Ye *Department of Anesthesiology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
Yixin XuDepartment of Anesthesiology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
Yanqun ZhangDepartment of Anesthesiology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
Xiangna GuoDepartment of Anesthesiology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
Yaqi YeDepartment of Anesthesiology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
Xiaohua YangDepartment of Anesthesiology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
Xiaolin LuoDepartment of Anesthesiology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0008-5945-2534
Wenjun XinGuangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Department of Physiology and Pain Research Center, Zhongshan Medical School, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhongshan Road 2, Guangzhou, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5380-8738
Jingdun XieDepartment of Anesthesiology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China. xiejd6@mail.sysu.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3820-8435

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 82471238, 824B2028 and 82401446
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Tumor-neural crosstalk contributes to the remodeling of the tumor microenvironment, yet how tumors engage peripheral glial networks, particularly Schwann cells (SCs), to drive chronic pain remains unclear. Here, we identify a specialized cellular communication network factor 3-positive (CCN3⁺) SC subpopulation that promotes tumor innervation and contributes to pain in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We demonstrate that cancer cell-derived growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) drives expansion of CCN3⁺ SCs and induces glycolytic reprogramming via the GDNF family receptor alpha-like (GFRAL) receptor. Mechanistically, GFRAL activation triggers the protein kinase B (AKT)-runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) cascade, upregulating the glycolytic enzyme muscle-type phosphofructokinase (PFKM) in CCN3⁺ SCs, which enhances tumor innervation and pain sensitization. Targeted inhibition of GDF15-GFRAL signaling in CCN3⁺ SCs significantly alleviates PDAC-associated pain. Together, these findings reveal a perineural-metabolic axis driven by glycolytic reprogramming in SCs and highlight a promising therapeutic strategy for PDAC-associated pain.

Indexed as

Carcinoma, Pancreatic DuctalPainPancreatic NeoplasmsSchwann CellsAnimalsCell Line, TumorGlial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ReceptorsGlycolysisHumansMetabolic ReprogrammingMiceSignal TransductionTumor MicroenvironmentGlial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Receptors

Identifiers

PMID42120379
PMCPMC13376396

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.