The role of inflammation in pancreatic cancer

• Published in: Advances in experimental medicine and biology Vol. 816; p. 129
• Main Authors: Hausmann, Simone, Kong, Bo, Michalski, Christoph, Erkan, Mert, Friess, Helmut
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.01.2014
• Subjects: Animals; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal - epidemiology; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal - etiology; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal - therapy; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic - genetics; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic - immunology; Cytokines - physiology; Humans; Mice; Pancreatic Neoplasms - epidemiology; Pancreatic Neoplasms - etiology; Pancreatic Neoplasms - therapy; Pancreatitis, Chronic - complications; Pancreatitis, Chronic - epidemiology; Pancreatitis, Chronic - genetics; Pancreatitis, Chronic - therapy; Signal Transduction - genetics; Signal Transduction - immunology
• ISSN: 0065-2598
• DOI: 10.1007/978-3-0348-0837-8_6

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a devastating disease with an extremely poor prognosis. Inflammatory processes have emerged as key mediators of pancreatic cancer development and progression. In genetically engineered mouse models, induction of pancreatitis accelerates PDAC development, and patients with chronic pancreatitis are known to have a higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer. In recent years, much effort has been given to identify the underlying mechanisms that contribute to inflammation-induced tumorigenesis. Many inflammatory pathways have been identified and inhibitors have been developed in order to prevent cancer development and progression. In this chapter, we discuss the role of inflammatory pathways in the initiation and progression of pancreatic cancer as well as the role of inhibitors used in treatment and prevention of pancreatic cancer.