Molecular mechanism of pancreatic cancer--understanding proliferation, invasion, and metastasis.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this review is to highlight the molecular mechanisms leading to the development and progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) with particular emphasis on tumor cell proliferation, local invasion, and metastasis. Recent advances in the field of PDAC biology have shed light on the molecular events that trigger PDAC initiation and maintenance.


RESULTS
It is now clear that apart from the genetic alterations within the tumor cells, interactions of the tumor with its environment are necessary for proliferation and invasion. Interestingly, a number of developmental signaling pathways are reactivated in PDAC. Progress has also been made in the understanding of the molecular events that govern the process of metastasis.


CONCLUSIONS
Although our understanding of the mechanisms underlying PDAC pathobiology are more advanced than ever, little progress has been made in the clinical treatment of PDAC, and successful bench-to-bedside transfer of knowledge to boost new treatment options is still unsatisfying.
Chirurgische Klinik und Poliklinik, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaningerstrasse 22, 81675, Munich, Germany.
André L
AL
Mihaljevic
Christoph W
CW
Michalski
Helmut
H
Friess
Jörg
J
Kleeff
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D015398:Signal Transduction