Signaling pathways in pancreatic cancer

Abstract

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a deadly malignancy characterized by a plethora of molecular alterations that include major and minor driving mutations, the presence of intense desmoplasia exhibiting numerous proliferating pancreatic stellate cells (PSC) and cancer-associated fibroblasts that produce fibronectin and collagens, and foci of inflammatory cells that produce mitogenic cytokines. This review will focus on signaling by tyrosine kinase receptors, and the role of transforming growth factor beta in this malignancy is described briefly. Potential for therapeutic interventions will be discussed in relation to specific pathways.