Korean J Gastroenterol.  2013 Mar;61(3):147-154. 10.4166/kjg.2013.61.3.147.

Recent Update of Molecular Targeted Therapy in Pancreatic Cancer

• Cho JH

• KMID: 1501637
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4166/kjg.2013.61.3.147

Abstract

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is one of the most dreaded malignancies and the 5th leading cause of cancer-related death in Korea. Late diagnosis and unfavorable response to both chemotherapy and radiotherapy result in exceptionally poor prognosis. Recently, the rapid advances of molecular biology allowed an in-depth understanding of pancreatic carcinogenesis, and there are many attempts to modulate signal pathway using specific targeted agent. However, the most of them have so far failed to improve survival significantly except erlotinib. The real challenge is now how these impressive advances of molecular biology could be successfully integrated into better clinical implications. Herein, we summarize the latest insights into the carcinogenesis, and their repercussions for novel targeted agents for pancreatic cancer, and provide a review of recent clinical trials using molecular targeted therapy.

Keyword

Pancreatic neoplasms; Molecular targeted therapy

MeSH Terms

Antineoplastic Agents/*therapeutic use
Epigenesis, Genetic
Humans
Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases/antagonists & inhibitors/metabolism
Molecular Targeted Therapy
Pancreatic Neoplasms/*drug therapy/metabolism/pathology
Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases/antagonists & inhibitors/metabolism
Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor/antagonists & inhibitors/metabolism
Receptor, IGF Type 1/antagonists & inhibitors/metabolism
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/antagonists & inhibitors/metabolism
Antineoplastic Agents
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases
Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor
Receptor, IGF Type 1
Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. Schematic overview of major survival and proliferation signal pathways and molecular targeted agents currently evaluated in pancreatic cancer. RTK, receptor tyrosine kinase; Grb2, growth factor receptor bound protein 2; SOS, sons of sevenless homolog; MEK, mitogen activated pro-tein/extracellular signal regulated kinase kinase; ERK, extracellular signal regulated kinase; PI3K, phosphoinositide 3-kinase; PTEN, phosphatase and tensin homologue; mTOR, mammalian target of rapamycin; S6K1, S6 kinase 1; 4EBP, 4E binding protein; IGF-1R, insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor; HIF, hypoxia inducible factor.

Reference

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