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Pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic carcinogenesis — several small steps or one giant leap?

Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology volume 14, pages 7–8 (2017)Cite this article

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Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is thought to develop through the stepwise accumulation of cancer gene mutations. A new study suggests that 16% of PDACs exhibit genetic rearrangements that simultaneously altered two or more cancer driver genes. These findings challenge the current models of PDAC development, but arguably remain compatible with a stepwise tumour progression.

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Figure 1: Models of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) progression.

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Acknowledgements

We appreciate the helpful comments and suggestions by B. Vogelstein, M. Nowak, I. Bozic, J. Gerold and A. Makohon-Moore.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Program for Evolutionary Dynamics, Harvard University, Cambridge, 02138, Massachusetts, USA

    Johannes G. Reiter

  2. Department of Pathology, Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, David M. Rubenstein Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, 10065, New York, USA

    Christine A. Iacobuzio-Donahue

Authors
  1. Johannes G. Reiter
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  2. Christine A. Iacobuzio-Donahue
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Correspondence to Christine A. Iacobuzio-Donahue.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Reiter, J., Iacobuzio-Donahue, C. Pancreatic carcinogenesis — several small steps or one giant leap?. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 14, 7–8 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrgastro.2016.190

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