Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) can be divided into head, body and tail cancers according to the anatomy. Distinctions in tissue composition, vascularization and innervations have been clearly identified between the head and body/tail of the pancreas both in embryological development and in histopathology. To understand the postulated genotype difference, we present comprehensive information on two PDAC cell lines as typical representatives originating from pancreatic head and body/tail cancers, respectively.
Data source: In the present review, we compare the difference between pancreatic head and body/tail cancers regarding clinical parameters and introducing an in vitro model.
Results: Increasing evidence has shown that tumors at different locations (head vs body/tail) display different clinical presentation (e.g. incidence, symptom), treatment efficiency (e.g. surgery, chemotherapy) and thus patient prognosis. However, the genetic or molecular diversity (e.g. mutations, microRNA) between the two subtypes of PDAC has not been elucidated so far. They present different chemo- and/or radio-resistance, extracellular matrix adhesion and invasiveness, as well as genetic profiles.
Conclusion: Genetic and tumor biological diversity exists in PDAC according to the tumor localization.