Morphogenesis of pancreatic cancer: role of pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanINs).
BACKGROUND
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (i.e., pancreatic cancer) is an almost universally lethal disease. The identification of precursor lesions of pancreatic cancer provides an opportunity for early detection and potential therapeutic intervention before the development of invasive cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
It is now established that pancreatic cancers do not arise de novo but rather exhibit a sequential histological and genetic progression of precursor lesions culminating in frank, invasive neoplasia. Pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) is the most common non-invasive precursor lesion of pancreatic cancer. The development of a consensus nomenclature scheme for PanINs has facilitated research into pancreatic cancer precursors and enabled standardization of results across institutions.


CONCLUSIONS
PanINs harbor many of the molecular alterations observed in invasive pancreatic cancer, confirming their status as true non-invasive precursor lesions. Recently developed genetically engineered mouse models of pancreatic cancer also demonstrate the stepwise PanIN progression model, underscoring the commonalities in pancreatic neoplasia between mouse and man.
Koorstra
Jan-Bart M
JB
Department of Pathology, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Feldmann
Georg
G
Habbe
Nils
N
Maitra
Anirban
A
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000235:genetics; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D004260:DNA Repair / Q000235:genetics; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D005752:Gastric Mucins / Q000235:genetics; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D016153:Genes, Suppressor; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D000070957:MutL Protein Homolog 1; D051718:MutS Homolog 2 Protein / Q000235:genetics; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D010179:Pancreas / Q000473:pathology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000235:genetics
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D005752:Gastric Mucins; C117307:KRAS protein, human; C501486:MLH1 protein, human; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; C053366:apomucin; C497172:MSH2 protein, human; D000070957:MutL Protein Homolog 1; D051718:MutS Homolog 2 Protein; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); D018631:ras Proteins