Acknowledging the α-SMA+/− classification of myCAF activation, our analysis revealed that α-SMA was not a defining gene of our myCAF population, and we suggest that CTHRC1 may serve as a potential future marker for myCAF in PDAC and other solid tumor cancers due to its increased expression and positive contribution to the carcinogenesis of other cancers, such as stomach, liver, colon, and breast11,55. This evidence concerns the gene ACTA1 and cancer.