Utilizing endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration in identifying molecular targets for pancreatic cancer

JOP. 2013 Jul 10;14(4):316-7. doi: 10.6092/1590-8577/1642.

Abstract

Pancreatic cancer remains a devastating disease, with poor survival rates and high recurrence rates with current treatment regimens. Over the years we have come to understand the complex biology of this cancer, involving cross-talking signaling pathways that proffers resistance to current therapy. Several molecularly targeted agents remain in development. At the 2013 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, an abstract (#4051) was presented which explored using endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration of pancreatic cancer tissue to identify molecular targets, and argued for the feasibility of personalizing pancreatic cancer therapy based on the activated molecular pathways identified. We summarize their findings and discuss the possibility of utilizing this model to obtain a better understanding of pancreatic cancer at each stage of its metamorphosis and target therapy at these different levels.

MeSH terms

  • Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration
  • Erlotinib Hydrochloride
  • Humans
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy / methods*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Quinazolines / therapeutic use
  • Receptor, ErbB-3 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Receptor, ErbB-3 / metabolism
  • Reproducibility of Results

Substances

  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Quinazolines
  • Erlotinib Hydrochloride
  • ERBB3 protein, human
  • Receptor, ErbB-3
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt