Pancreatic cancer: The role of molecular markers in diagnosis and management Journal Article


Authors: Lowery, M. A.; O'Reilly, E. M.
Article Title: Pancreatic cancer: The role of molecular markers in diagnosis and management
Abstract: Despite an annual incidence of just 40,000 new cases per year, pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAC) remains the fourth most common cause of cancer-related mortality in the United States, a fact indicative of the considerable diagnostic and therapeutic challenges posed by this malignancy. The availability of increasingly sophisticated molecular techniques over the last decade has intensified the search for biomarkers not only to predict outcome and response to therapy in established pancreatic malignancy but also to identify premalignant pancreatic lesions in at-risk individuals. A wealth of information regarding the complex sequence of genetic abnormalities in PAC has been gained from recent in-depth molecular analyses, and lately the role of epigenetic alterations in the development and maintenance of pancreatic carcinogenesis has been more clearly described. In addition, advances in serum proteomic methods and the collection of circulating tumor cells offer hope for the development of noninvasive techniques for biomarker discovery. At present, we are awaiting the development and validation of robust biomarkers suitable for clinical application in this disease. Herein, we discuss the current status of molecular markers in the diagnosis and management of PAC and review potential clinical applications thereof.
Keywords: cancer survival; unclassified drug; gene mutation; review; erlotinib; fluorouracil; advanced cancer; cancer combination chemotherapy; cancer growth; cancer risk; nonhuman; capecitabine; gemcitabine; paclitaxel; cancer radiotherapy; pancreas resection; outcome assessment; antineoplastic agent; metastasis; microrna; blood toxicity; differential diagnosis; epidermal growth factor receptor; pancreas cyst; cyst fluid; cancer screening; drug effect; cancer research; prediction; risk assessment; carcinogenesis; drug hypersensitivity; rash; cancer invasion; molecular marker; oncogene; tumor suppressor gene; liver metastasis; drug mechanism; diagnostic value; epigenetics; blood analysis; pancreas adenocarcinoma; gene inactivation; pancreatic adenocarcinoma; drug metabolism; platinum complex; oncogene k ras; malignant transformation; circulating tumor cells; scatter factor receptor; molecular markers; circulating tumor cell; functional proteomics; molecular diagnosis; intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm; precancer; osteonectin; cd40 antigen; cp 870893; equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1; gemcitabine 5' elaidate; dck gene; dpc4 gene
Journal Title: Clinical Advances in Hematology & Oncology
Volume: 9
Issue: 12
ISSN: 1543-0790
Publisher: Millennium Medical Publishing, Inc  
Date Published: 2011-12-01
Start Page: 900
End Page: 908
Language: English
PROVIDER: scopus
PUBMED: 22252658
DOI/URL:
Notes: --- - "Export Date: 1 March 2012" - "Source: Scopus"
Citation Impact
MSK Authors
  1. Maeve Aine Lowery
    133 Lowery
  2. Eileen O'Reilly
    780 O'Reilly