Work

Pancreatic Cancer Metabolism: Breaking It Down to Build It Back Up

Year: 2015

Type: review

Abstract: UNLABELLED: How do cancer cells escape tightly controlled regulatory circuits that link their proliferation to extracellular nutrient cues? An emerging theme in cancer biology is the hijacking of normal stress response mechanisms to enable growth even when nutrients are limiting. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is the quintessential aggressive malignancy that thrives in nutrient-poor, hypoxic environments. PDAs overcome these limitations through appropriation of unorthodox strategies for fuel source acquisition and utilization. In addition, the interplay between evolving PDA and whole-body metabolism contributes to disease pathogenesis. Deciphering how these pathways function and integrate with one another can reveal novel angles of therapeutic attack. SIGNIFICANCE: Alterations in tumor cell and systemic metabolism are central to the biology of pancreatic cancer. Further investigation of these processes will provide important insights into how these tumors develop and grow, and suggest new approaches for its detection, prevention, and treatment.

Source: Cancer Discovery

DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-15-0671

Authors: Rushika M. Perera, Nabeel Bardeesy

Institutions: Harvard University, Massachusetts General Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Cancer, Hypoxia, and Metabolism

Subfield: Cancer Research

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Cancer Institute