Neurotransmitter receptors as central regulators of pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a near 100% mortality because it is generally detected at an advanced stage and responds poorly to existing therapeutics. This review summarizes current evidence suggesting important roles of neurotransmitter receptors in the regulation of this malignancy....
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Published in | Future oncology (London, England) Vol. 6; no. 2; pp. 221 - 228 |
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Main Authors | , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
England
Future Medicine Ltd
01.02.2010
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Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a near 100% mortality because it is generally detected at an advanced stage and responds poorly to existing therapeutics. This review summarizes current evidence suggesting important roles of neurotransmitter receptors in the regulation of this malignancy. Experimental evidence indicates that the α
-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α
nAChR) stimulates PDAC via stress neurotransmitter-mediated activation of -adrenergic signaling while the α
nAChR inhibits PDAC via GABA-mediated inhibition of adenylyl cyclase activation. In analogy to molecular mechanisms that govern nicotine addiction, chronic exposure to nicotine or its nitrosated derivative nitrosamine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone render the stimulatory α
nAChR hyperactive while desensitizing the inhibitory α
nAChR. Accordingly, PDAC intervention strategies should include the diagnosis of unphysiological neurotransmitter levels and aim to restore any imbalance in stimulatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters. |
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Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-2 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-3 content type line 23 ObjectType-Review-1 |
ISSN: | 1479-6694 1744-8301 |
DOI: | 10.2217/fon.09.171 |