Li ZY, Peng SY, Li FL, Cai HQ. Immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment shape pancreatic cancer unresponsive to current immunotherapies. World J Clin Oncol 2026; 17(2): 114423 [DOI: 10.5306/wjco.v17.i2.114423]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Hong-Qiao Cai, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, General Surgery Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, No. 1 Xinmin Street, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China. hongqiaocai@jlu.edu.cn
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Gastroenterology & Hepatology
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Minireviews
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This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Feb 24, 2026 (publication date) through Feb 13, 2026
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World Journal of Clinical Oncology
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2218-4333
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Baishideng Publishing Group Inc, 7041 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 160, Pleasanton, CA 94566, USA
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Li ZY, Peng SY, Li FL, Cai HQ. Immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment shape pancreatic cancer unresponsive to current immunotherapies. World J Clin Oncol 2026; 17(2): 114423 [DOI: 10.5306/wjco.v17.i2.114423]
World J Clin Oncol. Feb 24, 2026; 17(2): 114423 Published online Feb 24, 2026. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v17.i2.114423
Immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment shape pancreatic cancer unresponsive to current immunotherapies
Zong-Yang Li, Si-Yu Peng, Fei-Long Li, Hong-Qiao Cai
Zong-Yang Li, Fei-Long Li, Hong-Qiao Cai, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, General Surgery Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China
Si-Yu Peng, Department of Gastrocolorectal Surgery, General Surgery Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China
Author contributions: Li ZY contributed to the discussion and design of the manuscript; Peng SY and Li FL contributed to the writing, and editing the manuscript, and review of literature; Cai HQ designed the overall concept and outline of the manuscript; and all authors thoroughly reviewed and endorsed the final manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Corresponding author: Hong-Qiao Cai, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, General Surgery Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, No. 1 Xinmin Street, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China. hongqiaocai@jlu.edu.cn
Received: September 19, 2025 Revised: September 28, 2025 Accepted: December 15, 2025 Published online: February 24, 2026 Processing time: 141 Days and 2.6 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is characterized by a highly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment dominated by regulatory T cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and tumor-associated macrophages. These cells form a synergistic network that promotes immune evasion and resistance to immunotherapy. Recent advances in single-cell transcriptomics have revealed cellular heterogeneity and identified novel therapeutic targets. Emerging strategies focus on depleting or reprogramming these immunosuppressive populations, often in combination with checkpoint blockade or chemotherapy. A multi-target approach is essential to convert pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma from an immunologically “cold” to “hot” tumor and improve patient outcomes.
