Lactylation-driven NSUN2-mediated RNA m5C modification promotes perineural invasion in pancreasic cancer. Tianhao Huang et al.

Lactylation, a metabolic stress-induced modification, plays a pivotal role in regulating diverse biological processes. Its involvement in perineural invasion (PNI) of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), however, has not been clearly defined. Our study demonstrates that patients with severe PNI exhibit significantly elevated levels of global lactylation and lactate, correlating with poorer prognosis. We identified NSUN2, a methyltransferase, as a crucial mediator of lactylation-driven PNI. Inhibition of lactylation or NSUN2 markedly reduced the neural infiltration capabilities of tumor cells.