Dedifferentiated Schwann cells promote perineural invasion mediated by the PACAP paracrine signalling in cervical cancer

Abstract

Perineural invasion (PNI) has emerged as a key pathological feature and be considered as a poor prognostic factor in cervical cancer. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. Here, PNI status of 269 cervical squamous cell carcinoma and endocervical adenocarcinoma (CESC) samples were quantified by using whole‐slide diagnostic images obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Integrated analyses revealed that PNI was an indicative marker of poorer disease‐free survival for CESC patients. Among the differentially expressed genes, ADCYAP1 were identified. Clinical specimens supported that high expression of PACAP (encoded by ADCYAP1) contributed to PNI in CESC. Mechanistically, PACAP, secreted from cervical cancer cells, reversed myelin differentiation of Schwann cells (SCs). Then, dedifferentiated SCs promoted PNI by producing chemokine FGF17 and by degrading extracellular matrix through secretion of Cathepsin S and MMP‐12. In conclusion, this study identified PACAP was associated with PNI in cervical cancer and suggested that tumour‐derived PACAP reversed myelin differentiation of SCs to aid PNI.