The next wave of stroma-targeting therapy in pancreatic cancer

The stroma of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) forms a major barrier to therapy and immune surveillance. Elahi-Gedwillo and colleagues demonstrate that halofuginone has potent antifibrotic activity in PDA by directly inhibiting the activation of pancreatic stellate cells, thereby reducing the deposition of extracellular matrix components, including collagen and hyaluronic acid. As a result, halofuginone improves drug delivery and the infiltration of favorable immune cells such as immune-stimulatory myeloid cells and cytotoxic T cells. Despite recent controversies regarding targeting stroma in PDA, this study highlights that modifying the stroma of PDA remains an attractive strategy to improve the efficacy of therapy.