Molecular pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer.
Pancreatic cancer is fundamentally a disease of inherited and acquired mutations in cancer-related genes. The genes targeted in pancreatic cancer include tumor-suppressor genes (p16/CDKN2A, TP53 and SMAD4), oncogenes (KRAS, BRAF, AKT2, MYB, and AIB1), and genome-maintenance genes (MLH1, MSH2, BRAC2 and other Fanconi anemia genes). An understanding of the cancer-related genes that are altered in pancreatic cancer has a number of clinical applications including genetic counseling for individuals with a family history of cancer, early detection of pancreatic neoplasia, and mechanism-based therapies for patients with advanced disease. This chapter will provide an overview of the molecular pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer with emphasis on clinical applications.
Department of Pathology, The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA. amaitra1@jhmi.edu
Anirban
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Maitra
Scott E
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Kern
Ralph H
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Hruban
D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D015870:Gene Expression; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D042822:Genomic Instability; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D009857:Oncogenes; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D016615:Telomere