Targets, trials, and travails in pancreas cancer

J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2007 Nov;5(10):1042-53. doi: 10.6004/jnccn.2007.0087.

Abstract

Pancreas cancer is a highly aggressive and rapidly fatal disease. The current standard of care for advanced disease improves survival modestly at best and provides palliation for a minority of patients. The need for new therapies is undisputed. This article describes new therapeutic strategies currently under investigation and discusses possible reasons that others have failed. New potential targets in the treatment of this formidable disease are suggested based on recent findings.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / drug therapy*
  • Adenocarcinoma / genetics
  • Adenocarcinoma / metabolism
  • Adenocarcinoma / therapy*
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Epidermal Growth Factor / genetics
  • ErbB Receptors / drug effects
  • Genes, Tumor Suppressor / physiology
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / genetics
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)
  • Serine Endopeptidases / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • ras Proteins / genetics
  • ras Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • KRAS protein, human
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Epidermal Growth Factor
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Serine Endopeptidases
  • ST14 protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)
  • ras Proteins