# Cross-species single-cell analysis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma reveals antigen-presenting cancer-associated fibroblasts

Source: https://onco.cc/key-papers/paper-elyada-antigen-presenting-cafs-single-cell-cancer-discov-2019/  
OnCo record `paper-elyada-antigen-presenting-cafs-single-cell-cancer-discov-2019` (Key paper). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

Reading pancreatic tumours one cell at a time confirmed the two known fibroblast types and found a third that carries the molecules used to show antigens to immune cells and can switch on helper T cells.

## Summary

Single-cell RNA sequencing characterised the neoplastic and microenvironment content of human and mouse pancreatic tumours. Myofibroblastic and inflammatory CAFs were corroborated and their in vivo gene signatures defined. A new CAF population expressing MHC class II and CD74 but not classic costimulatory molecules was described and termed antigen-presenting CAFs; they activated CD4-positive T cells in an antigen-specific fashion in a model system, confirming an immune-modulatory capacity.

## Fields

- Kind: Key paper
- Last checked: 2026-09-24
- Journal: Cancer Discovery
- Year: 2019
- DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.CD-19-0094
- Authors: Elyada E, Bolisetty M, Laise P, et al.
- Findings: Three CAF states: myofibroblastic, inflammatory and antigen-presenting.; Antigen-presenting CAFs express MHC class II and CD74 and activate CD4 T cells in a model.
- What it means: Fibroblasts are part of the immune conversation, not just a physical barrier, which is why stromal and immune strategies are now designed together.
- Caveats: Descriptive single-cell atlas; function shown in a model system.; Whether antigen-presenting CAFs help or suppress immunity in patients is unknown.

## Sources

- Elyada et al., Cancer Discov 2019: antigen-presenting fibroblasts by single-cell sequencing: https://doi.org/10.1158/2159-8290.CD-19-0094
- PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31197017/

## Connected records

- cancers: [Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma](https://onco.cc/cancers/pancreatic/)
- technologies: [Single-cell & spatial profiling](https://onco.cc/technologies/single-cell-spatial/)
- institutions: [Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory](https://onco.cc/institutions/cold-spring-harbor/)
- pathways: [Antigen presentation & immune editing](https://onco.cc/pathways/antigen-presentation-immunoediting/), [Fibroblast activation, desmoplasia & matrix stiffness](https://onco.cc/pathways/caf-activation-desmoplasia/), [Tumour microenvironment (TME)](https://onco.cc/pathways/tumor-microenvironment/)
- people: [David A. Tuveson](https://onco.cc/people/david-tuveson/), [Elizabeth M. Jaffee](https://onco.cc/people/elizabeth-jaffee/)
- journals: [Cancer Discovery](https://onco.cc/journals/cancer-discovery/)
- terms: [Fibroblast subtypes in the pancreatic cancer stroma (myCAF, iCAF and apCAF)](https://onco.cc/terms/caf-subtypes-pancreatic/)

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