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Molecular biology of pancreatic cancer

Clinical and Translational Oncology volume 10, Article number: 530 (2008) Cite this article

Abstract

Pancreatic cancer is a leading cause of cancer death. This devastating disease has the horrible honour of close to equal incidence and mortality rates. Late diagnosis and a constitutive resistance to every chemotherapy approach are responsible for this scenario. However, molecular biology tools in cooperation with translational efforts have dissected several secrets that underlie pancreatic cancer. Progressive acquisition of malignant, invasive phenotypes from pre-malignant lesions, recent revelations on core signalling pathways and new targeted designed trials offer a better future for pancreatic cancer patients. This review will summarise recent advances in the molecular biology of pancreatic cancer.

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Author information

Affiliations

  1. Translational Oncology Unit CSIC/UAM at Medical Oncology Division, University Hospital La Paz Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Paseo de la Castellana, 261, ES-28046, Madrid, Spain

    Cristóbal Belda-Iniesta, Jorge Barriuso, Javier de Castro Carpeño, Manuel González Barón & Jaime Feliú

  2. MD Anderson International Cancer Center España, Madrid, Spain

    Cristóbal Belda-Iniesta & Manuel González Barón

  3. Translational Oncology Unit (CSIC/UAM) at Biomedical Research Institute “Alberto Sols”, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain

    Inmaculada Ibáñez de Cáceres

Authors
  1. Cristóbal Belda-Iniesta
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  2. Inmaculada Ibáñez de Cáceres
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  3. Jorge Barriuso
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  4. Javier de Castro Carpeño
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  5. Manuel González Barón
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  6. Jaime Feliú
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jaime Feliú.

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Supported by an unrestricted educational grant from GlaxoSmithKline.

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Belda-Iniesta, C., Ibáñez de Cáceres, I., Barriuso, J. et al. Molecular biology of pancreatic cancer. Clin Transl Oncol 10, 530 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-008-0247-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-008-0247-6

Keywords

  • Pancreatic cancer
  • K-ras
  • Cyclins
  • TGFβ
  • STAT3
  • EGFr