title: Molecular and Genetic Basis of Pancreatic Carcinogenesis: Which Concepts May be Clinically Relevant?
abstract: Carcinogenic progression in the pancreas arises through a well-established stepwise accumulation of molecular aberrations from a normal cell to an invasive adenocarcinoma. Recent large-scale sequencing efforts have provided insight into novel driver genes as well as enriched core signaling pathways that underlie the inherent heterogeneity found in pancreatic cancer. By exploiting these genomic profiles, we may begin to provide new insights into patient stratification and therapeutic guidance. This review discusses the molecular landscape of pancreatic cancer and its role in tumor progression, clinical prognostication, and the development of novel therapeutic strategies.
authors.affiliation: Sheikh Ahmed Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bernard
authors.affiliation: Sheikh Ahmed Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.affiliation: Sheikh Ahmed Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 6565 MD Anderson Boulevard, Room Z3.3038, Houston, TX 77030, USA. Electronic address: amaitra@mdanderson.org.
authors.forename: Anirban
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maitra
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics*; D063646:Carcinogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / Q000235:genetics*; D018450:Disease Progression; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics
keywords: Carcinogenic progression; Genomic profiling; Pancreatic cancer; Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma