Toward the goal of personalized therapy in pancreatic cancer by targeting the molecular phenotype

Nelson S Yee

doi:10.1007/978-1-4614-6176-0_5

Toward the goal of personalized therapy in pancreatic cancer by targeting the molecular phenotype

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2013:779:91-143. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4614-6176-0_5.

Author

Nelson S Yee¹

Affiliation

¹ Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Penn State College of Medicine, Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA 17033-0850, USA. nyee@hmc.psu.edu

PMID: 23288637
DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4614-6176-0_5

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to provide a critical review of the molecular alterations in pancreatic cancer that are clinically investigated as therapeutic targets and their potential impact on clinical outcomes. Adenocarcinoma of exocrine pancreas is generally associated with poor prognosis and the conventional therapies are marginally effective. Advances in understanding the genetic regulation of normal and neoplastic development of pancreas have led to development and clinical evaluation of new therapeutic strategies that target the signaling pathways and molecular alterations in pancreatic cancer. Applications have begun to utilize the genetic targets as biomarkers for prediction of therapeutic responses and selection of treatment options. The goal of accomplishing personalized tumor-specific therapy with tolerable side effects for patients with pancreatic cancer is hopefully within reach in the foreseeable future.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Humans
Molecular Targeted Therapy
Neoplastic Stem Cells / drug effects
Pancreatic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
Pancreatic Neoplasms / etiology
Pancreatic Neoplasms / genetics*
Phenotype
Precision Medicine*