Fig. 8: Summary model displaying the mechanism of the SLIT2-ROBO1 axis in PDAC liver metastasis and coadaptation.

(a) Summary model displaying the process of SLIT2-ROBO1-mediated coadaptation of hepatic cells and tumour cells, which promotes metastatic niche outgrowth in PDAC. b Summary model showing the dual roles of ROBO1 in coadaptation with or without SLIT2. ROBO1 induces apoptosis through the caspase cascade in the absence of SLIT2 and triggers proliferation and survival through the p38MAPK pathway by interacting with SLIT2.