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Molecular Genetics of Pancreatic Cancer

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Pancreatic Cancer

Part of the book series: M. D. Anderson Solid Tumor Oncology Series ((MDA))

In cancer, genome stability is compromised. Ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas is no exception. Considerable progress in the identification and characterization of somatic and/or germline genetic alterations has provided the mechanistic foundations of this genetically complex disease. Numerous alterations, including chromosomal copy-number gains, amplifications and homozygous deletions, loss of heterozygosity (LOH) with and without copy number reduction, and balanced and unbalanced structural re-arrangements, are commonly observed (1–4). Gross chromosomal changes are often complemented by smaller, more subtle alterations affecting the open reading frames of proto-oncogenes, tumor suppressors, and genome caretaker genes (5–8). Continued evaluation of these and additional yet-unidentified genetic alterations should translate into rational diagnostic and treatment strategies.

This chapter describes the spectrum and frequency of genetic alterations observed in ductal adenocarcinomas of the pancreas, as organized by the underlying presence of two, largely mutually exclusive, types of genome instability: chromosomal instability (CIN) and microsatellite instability (MIN). This distinction is justified, as each tumor type exhibits unique histologic and molecular characteristics ( 9 ).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, John Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

    Eric S. Calhoun PhD & Scott E. Kern MD

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  1. University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA

    Andrew M. Lowy

  2. School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Steven D. Leach

  3. Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA

    Philip A. Philip

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Calhoun, E.S., Kern, S.E. (2008). Molecular Genetics of Pancreatic Cancer. In: Lowy, A.M., Leach, S.D., Philip, P.A. (eds) Pancreatic Cancer. M. D. Anderson Solid Tumor Oncology Series. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-69252-4_2

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