title: Pancreatic cancer biology and genetics from an evolutionary perspective.
abstract: Cancer is an evolutionary disease, containing the hallmarks of an asexually reproducing unicellular organism subject to evolutionary paradigms. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (hereafter referred to as pancreatic cancer) is a particularly robust example of this phenomenon. Genomic features indicate that pancreatic cancer cells are selected for fitness advantages when encountering the geographic and resource-depleted constraints of the microenvironment. Phenotypic adaptations to these pressures help disseminated cells to survive in secondary sites, a major clinical problem for patients with this disease. In this Review we gather the wide-ranging aspects of pancreatic cancer research into a single concept rooted in Darwinian evolution, with the goal of identifying novel insights and opportunities for study.
authors.affiliation: Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, USA.|Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, USA.
authors.forename: Alvin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Makohon-Moore
authors.affiliation: Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, USA.|Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, USA.|David M. Rubenstein Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, USA.
authors.forename: Christine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Iacobuzio-Donahue
mesh_terms: D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D002455:Cell Division; D002470:Cell Survival; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics; D002999:Clone Cells; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D019942:Genes, p16; D016158:Genes, p53; D011905:Genes, ras; D018740:Genetic Heterogeneity; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D051901:Smad4 Protein / Q000235:genetics; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000502:physiology; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment
chemical_list: D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; C497796:SMAD4 protein, human; D051901:Smad4 Protein