Open Access

Metastatic pancreatic cancer: Mechanisms and detection (Review)

  • Authors:
    • Xiangling Chen
    • Fangfang Liu
    • Qingping Xue
    • Xiechuan Weng
    • Fan Xu
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: September 7, 2021     https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2021.8182
  • Article Number: 231
  • Copyright: © Chen et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a lethal malignancy. Its prevalence rate remains low but continues to grow each year. Among all stages of PC, metastatic PC is defined as late‑stage (stage IV) PC and has an even higher fatality rate. Patients with PC do not have any specific clinical manifestations. Most cases are inoperable at the time‑point of diagnosis. Prognosis is also poor even with curative‑intent surgery. Complications during surgery, postoperative pancreatic fistula and recurrence with metastatic foci make the management of metastatic PC difficult. While extensive efforts were made to improve survival outcomes, further elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of metastasis poses a formidable challenge. The present review provided an overview of the mechanisms of metastatic PC, summarizing currently known signaling pathways (e.g. epithelial‑mesenchymal transition, NF‑κB and KRAS), imaging that may be utilized for early detection and biomarkers (e.g. carbohydrate antigen 19‑9, prostate cancer‑associated transcript‑1, F‑box/LRR‑repeat protein 7 and tumor stroma), giving insight into promising therapeutic targets.
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November-2021
Volume 46 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1021-335X
Online ISSN:1791-2431

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Copy and paste a formatted citation
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Spandidos Publications style
Chen X, Liu F, Xue Q, Weng X and Xu F: Metastatic pancreatic cancer: Mechanisms and detection (Review). Oncol Rep 46: 231, 2021
APA
Chen, X., Liu, F., Xue, Q., Weng, X., & Xu, F. (2021). Metastatic pancreatic cancer: Mechanisms and detection (Review). Oncology Reports, 46, 231. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2021.8182
MLA
Chen, X., Liu, F., Xue, Q., Weng, X., Xu, F."Metastatic pancreatic cancer: Mechanisms and detection (Review)". Oncology Reports 46.5 (2021): 231.
Chicago
Chen, X., Liu, F., Xue, Q., Weng, X., Xu, F."Metastatic pancreatic cancer: Mechanisms and detection (Review)". Oncology Reports 46, no. 5 (2021): 231. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2021.8182