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Pancreatic Cancer: Translating Lessons from Mouse Models and Hereditary Syndromes

Authors' Affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Department of Genetics, Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Requests for reprints: Anil K. Rustgi, University of Pennsylvania, 600 CRB, 415 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104. Phone: 215-898-0154; Fax: 215-573-5412; E-mail: anil2{at}mail.med.upenn.edu.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is the overwhelmingly predominant form of pancreatic cancer and the second most common type of gastrointestinal cancer (behind colorectal cancer) in the United States. Recent exciting advances in two areas of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (i.e., the development and characterization of genetically engineered mouse models and the dissection of the genetic basis of hereditary forms in families) have been illuminating. These preclinical models and clinical syndromes provide the first tangible basis for progress in screening and prevention in high-risk populations and in the development of molecular diagnostics and experimental therapeutics.