Targeted therapies for pancreatic adenocarcinoma Journal Article


Authors: Lowery, M.; O'Reilly, E. M.
Article Title: Targeted therapies for pancreatic adenocarcinoma
Abstract: The majority of patients diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the pancreas have advanced disease at presentation, with only 20% surviving beyond one year. Even among the 10% to 15% of patients who present with localized disease, only 20% will be alive 5 years post surgical resection. Systemic therapy for pancreatic adenocarcinoma to date has failed to provide more than a very modest survival benefit for patients with advanced disease. However, the past decade has seen significant advances in the understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer, culminating in the sequencing of the pancreatic cancer genome. New generations of dierapeutic agents targeting key oncogenic cellular signaling pathways are currently under evaluation in advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Although thus far only erlotinib has been shown to improve survival when compared to gemcitabine monotherapy, the authors anticipate that further developments in biomarker analysis and pharmacogenomics, along with the identification of new drugs will help maximize the benefit of novel therapeutics by directing effective use in the future. Herein the authors review the evidence to date for the use of novel cytotoxic and molecularly targeted agents in pancreatic adenocarcinoma, and discuss key areas for future dierapeutic development.
Keywords: survival; vascular endothelial growth factor a; pancreatic neoplasms; adenocarcinoma; pancreas; epidermal growth factor receptor; receptor, epidermal growth factor; platelet derived growth factor receptor; protein tyrosine kinase; somatomedin c receptor; receptor, igf type 1; drug antagonism; pancreas tumor; vasculotropin a; ras protein; ras proteins; src-family kinases; egfr protein, human; receptors, platelet-derived growth factor
Journal Title: Minerva Chirurgica
Volume: 64
Issue: 5
ISSN: 0026-4733
Publisher: Edizioni Minerva Medica  
Date Published: 2009-10-01
Start Page: 501
End Page: 519
Language: English
PUBMED: 19859040
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: --- - "Export Date: 30 November 2010" - "CODEN: MICHA" - "Source: Scopus"
Citation Impact
MSK Authors
  1. Maeve Aine Lowery
    133 Lowery
  2. Eileen O'Reilly
    780 O'Reilly