Skip to main content
. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2017 Oct 10.
Published in final edited form as: Cancer Lett. 2015 Dec 29;381(1):217–236. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2015.11.048

Figure 1. Pancreatic tumor microenvironment and lymph node metastasis.

Figure 1

Cells of the tumor microenvironment are essential contributors to tumor growth, lymphatic invasion, and lymph node metastasis. CAFs and TAMs secrete pro-lymphangiogenic factors and proteases needed for lymphangiogenesis and metastasis. Lymphatic vessels act as conduits not only for tumor cell metastasis, but also for immunosuppressive cell and cytokine transport to lymph nodes. Nerves are also another route for pancreatic tumor metastasis and can communicate with lymphatic vessels to facilitate tumor metastasis from one network to the other.