Genetics and Biology of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Hematol Oncol Clin North Am. 2015 Aug;29(4):595-608. doi: 10.1016/j.hoc.2015.04.003. Epub 2015 Jun 10.

Abstract

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma remains a clinical challenge. Thus far, enlightenment on the downstream activities of Kras, the tumor's unique metabolic needs, and how the stroma and immune system affect it have remained untranslated to the clinical practice. Given the numbers of diverse therapies in development and a growing knowledge about how to evaluate these systems preclinically and clinically, this is expected to change significantly and for the better over the next 5 years.

Keywords: Autophagy; Immunomodulation; KRAS; Microenvironment; Pancreatic Cancer; Stroma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autophagy / genetics
  • Autophagy / immunology
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / genetics*
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / pathology*
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / therapy
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 / genetics
  • Humans
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy
  • Mutation
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Pancreatic Ducts / metabolism
  • Pancreatic Ducts / pathology*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / therapy
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / genetics*
  • Smad4 Protein / genetics
  • Tumor Microenvironment / genetics
  • Tumor Microenvironment / immunology
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / genetics

Substances

  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16
  • KRAS protein, human
  • SMAD4 protein, human
  • Smad4 Protein
  • TP53 protein, human
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)