title: Challenges of Pancreatic Cancer.
abstract: The development of novel molecular cancer imaging agents has considerably advanced in recent years. Numerous cancer imaging agents have demonstrated remarkable potential for aiding the diagnosis, staging, and treatment planning at the preclinical stage, which in turn has led to a number of agents being approved for human trials. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is currently the most deadly common carcinoma with an overall 5-year survival rate of about 6%. As detection technologies progress, the need for molecular imaging tools that will allow the diagnosis at an early stage will be crucial to improving patient outcomes. In this review, we will highlight agents that illuminate various cell populations that comprise the tumor: epithelial, endothelial, and stromal tumor cells.
authors.affiliation: From the *Biomedical Engineering Department, University of Virginia, Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, Charlottesville, VA; †Department of Radiology and the Program in Molecular Pharmacology and Chemistry, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dimastromatteo
authors.forename: Jacob L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Houghton
authors.forename: Jason S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Kimberly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Kelly
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D057054:Molecular Imaging; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000473:pathology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011859:Radiography; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor