World J Gastroenterol. Oct 14, 2014; 20(38): 13833-13841 Published online Oct 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i38.13833
Pathology of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: Facts, challenges and future developments
Irene Esposito, Björn Konukiewitz, Anna Melissa Schlitter, Günter Klöppel
Irene Esposito, Björn Konukiewitz, Anna Melissa Schlitter, Günter Klöppel, Institute of Pathology, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany
Author contributions: Esposito I, Konukiewitz B and Schlitter AM contributed to the study idea, study design, literature search, manuscript writing and final revision of the article; Klöppel G contributed to the study idea, study design and final revision of the article.
Supported by EU COST Action BM1204 EUPancreas "An integrated european platform for pancreas cancer research: from basic science to cinical and public health interventions for a rare disease"
Correspondence to: Irene Esposito, MD, Institute of Pathology, Technische Universität München, Ismaningerstr 22, 81675 Munich, Germany. esposito@lrz.tu-muenchen.de
Telephone: +49-89-41404166 Fax: +49-89-41404865
Received: November 15, 2013 Revised: January 2, 2014 Accepted: May 12, 2014 Published online: October 14, 2014 Processing time: 335 Days and 0.2 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: Despite recent progresses, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains a disease with poor prognosis. Pathology has given fundamental contributions to these developments. In particular, precursor lesions have been identified and a model for PDAC development has been proposed and validated by molecular studies, which represent the basis for the identification of biomarkers for early diagnosis. A standardized protocol for the post-operative assessment of prognostic relevant parameters, such as the resection margin status, has been developed and has shown a high degree of interlaboratory reproducibility. Finally, the genome-wide analysis of PDAC has led to the identification of distinct molecular subtypes with different therapy response and clinical courses.
