Viscoelasticity drives EMT in pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia

Pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) is a precursor to pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and key for early diagnosis and therapy. During PanIN, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) promotes invasion and early cell dissemination. Tissue mechanics change during progression, with elasticity previously modelled as a diagnostic tool. However, viscoelasticity—combining elastic and viscous properties—is increasingly recognized as critical in cancer and mechanosensitive cell behaviour. Using PDAC mouse models and 2D polyacrylamide hydrogels, this study shows that viscoelasticity shifts dynamically from healthy to PanIN tissue. By separating elasticity and viscosity, it identifies viscosity as a key driver of EMT-related phenotypic changes, suggesting an important role for facilitating invasive potential which could be a novel target for diagnostics and therapy.