Recent advances on the molecular mechanisms involved in pancreatic cancer progression and therapies.
This review describes the recent advances in the molecular events involved in pancreatic cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis. Additionally, the importance of deregulated cellular signaling elements as potential targets for developing novel therapeutic strategies against incurable forms of pancreatic cancer is reported. The emphasis is on the critical functions gained by numerous growth factors and their receptors, such as epidermal growth factor receptor, hedgehog signaling, and proangiogenic agents such as vascular endothelial factor and interleukin-8 for the sustained growth, survival, and metastasis of pancreatic cancer cells. The molecular mechanisms associated with antitumoral properties and the clinical benefits of gemcitabine alone or in combination with other cytotoxic agents for the treatment of pancreatic cancer are discussed.
Mimeault
Murielle
M
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5870, USA.
Brand
Randall E
RE
Sasson
Aaron A
AA
Batra
Surinder K
SK
D017209:Apoptosis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D006801:Humans; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000502:physiology; D055264:Mucin-4; D009077:Mucins / Q000502:physiology; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000502:physiology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000502:physiology; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000502:physiology; D051880:Receptors, Notch / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000502:physiology; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D000093542:Gemcitabine
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; C524658:MUC4 protein, human; D018396:Mucin-1; D055264:Mucin-4; D009077:Mucins; D016328:NF-kappa B; D051880:Receptors, Notch; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; D000093542:Gemcitabine