Molecular biology of pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related death, challeng ing basic and clinical researchers worldwide. More effective diagnostic and treatment options require better definition of the pathophysiological chan ges of pancreatic cancer at the molecular level. In this review, we will di scuss a number of changes which are commonly present in pancreatic cancer, including 1) molecular alterations in three families of growth factors and their receptors, 2) molecular alterations in tumor suppressor genes, and 3) mutations of the K-ras protooncogene. In addition, we will also discuss se veral apoptosis-related genes which were recently found to have an importan t role in pancreatic cancer with regard to prognosis and new therapeutic ta rgeting points. A better understanding of the molecular alterations of panc reatic cancer will hopefully lead us to better strategies for diagnosis and treatment of this dismal disease in the future.