Shalini Jain

Shalini Jain has revealed that Schwann cells, the myelinating glia of peripheral nerves, actively promote cancer progression by dedifferentiating into a repair-like phenotype that secretes factors attracting cancer cells, facilitating perineural invasion, and providing trophic support for tumor growth. Her work demonstrated that Schwann cells migrate toward tumors and form direct contacts with cancer cells that promote invasion and survival. She has identified Schwann cell-derived signals including BDNF and L1CAM that mediate nerve-cancer interactions. Her research reveals the glial contribution to cancer progression.