title: Pancreatic Cancer from Molecular Pathways to Treatment Opinion.
abstract: Pancreatic cancer is considered one of the most lethal malignances. It has been observed that the five year survival rate is less than 5%. Early diagnosis, understanding the risk factors and investigation of the molecular pathways with targeted therapy are the keys for efficient treatment. Moreover; there are several local treatments for patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer. There are several combined therapies with chemotherapy and radiotherapy, however; a local therapy approach for many patients with poor performance status are in need. For those patients with good performance status new polychemotherapy regimens are used with success and increased survival improvement. Polychemotherapy has been observed to increase the rate of radical resections in some cases. Second line therapy is used for patients with good performance status and metastatic disease. Oxaliplatin-based regimens are mostly used, however; there are several other drugs that are being developed. Unfortunately, targeted therapy has not presented the expected efficiency. Moreover; immunotherapy; another treatment approach for several cancers types has again failed to present positive results for pancreatic cancer. In the current mini review, we will present information from the diagnosis to molecular pathways and targeted treatment.
authors.affiliation: 1. 1ST Department of Surgery, University Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, Dragana, Alexandroupolis, 68100 Thrace, Greece.
authors.forename: Michail
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karanikas
authors.affiliation: 1. 1ST Department of Surgery, University Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, Dragana, Alexandroupolis, 68100 Thrace, Greece.
authors.forename: Agis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Esempidis
authors.affiliation: 1. 1ST Department of Surgery, University Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, Dragana, Alexandroupolis, 68100 Thrace, Greece.
authors.forename: Zeinep Tzoutze Memet
authors.initials: ZT
authors.lastname: Chasan
authors.affiliation: 1. 1ST Department of Surgery, University Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, Dragana, Alexandroupolis, 68100 Thrace, Greece.
authors.forename: Theodora
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Deftereou
authors.affiliation: 1. 1ST Department of Surgery, University Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, Dragana, Alexandroupolis, 68100 Thrace, Greece.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Antonopoulou
authors.affiliation: 1. 1ST Department of Surgery, University Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, Dragana, Alexandroupolis, 68100 Thrace, Greece.
authors.forename: Ferdi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bozali
authors.affiliation: 2. Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, Dragana, Alexandroupolis, 68100 Thrace, Greece.
authors.forename: Kyriakos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Amarantidis
authors.affiliation: 3. Research Laboratory and International Collaboration, Bon Secours Cancer Institute, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Yan-Gao
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Man
keywords: Chemotherapy; Irreversible electroporation; Pancreatic cancer; Radio-frequency; Stereotactic radiotherapy.