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World J Gastroenterol. Aug 28, 2014; 20(32): 11241-11248
Published online Aug 28, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i32.11241
Published online Aug 28, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i32.11241
Advances in pancreatic cancer research: Moving towards early detection
Xiang-Yi He, Yao-Zong Yuan, Department of Gastroenterology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
Author contributions: He XY collected all the references and drafted the article; Yuan YZ chose the topic, organized the structure and revised the article.
Supported by Youth Foundation of Shanghai Municipal Health Bureau (in part), No. 122; Young Teachers Program of Shanghai University, National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 81302087; and Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai, No. 13ZR1457400
Correspondence to: Yao-Zong Yuan, MD, PhD, Department of Gastroenterology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, 197 Ruijin Er Road, Shanghai 200025, China. yyz28@medmail.com.cn
Telephone: +86-21-64150773 Fax: +86-21-64150773
Received: October 27, 2013
Revised: March 2, 2014
Accepted: June 2, 2014
Published online: August 28, 2014
Revised: March 2, 2014
Accepted: June 2, 2014
Published online: August 28, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: Because pancreatic cancer is usually detected at an advanced stage and there is a lack of treatment strategies for advanced disease, it remains one of the most lethal solid tumors. Genetic and epigenetic alterations, miRNAs and tumor microenvironment promote the development of pancreatic cancer from precursor lesions to localized disease and further to metastatic disease in several years. An effective screening strategy for pancreatic cancer is therefore needed. New-onset diabetes mellitus associated with pancreatic cancer and recently identified novel circulating biomarkers should be explored as potential screening markers.