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World J Gastroenterol. Mar 7, 2014; 20(9): 2237-2246
Published online Mar 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i9.2237
Pancreatic cancer stroma: Understanding biology leads to new therapeutic strategies
Agnieszka Anna Rucki, Lei Zheng
Agnieszka Anna Rucki, Lei Zheng, Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, the Skip Viragh Clinical Pancreatic Cancer Center, and the Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, United States
Author contributions: Rucki AA wrote the manuscript; and Zheng L developed the concept and revised the manuscript.
Supported by NIH R01 CA169702-01A1 (to Zheng L); NIH K23 CA148964-01 (to Zheng L); Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Clinical Scientist Award (to Zheng L); Viragh Foundation and the Skip Viragh Pancreatic Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins (to Zheng L); The National Pancreas Foundation (to Zheng L); Lefkofsky Family Foundation (to Zheng L); the NCI SPORE in Gastrointestinal Cancers P50 CA062924 (to Zheng L); Lustgarten Foundation (to Zheng L); and the Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Center grants (to Zheng L)
Correspondence to: Lei Zheng, MD, PhD, Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, the Skip Viragh Clinical Pancreatic Cancer Center, and the Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, 1650 Orleans Street, CRB1 Room 488, Baltimore, MD 21287, United States. lzheng6@jhmi.edu
Telephone: +1-410-5026241 Fax: +1-410-4168216
Received: October 22, 2013
Revised: December 14, 2013
Accepted: January 19, 2014
Published online: March 7, 2014
Core Tip

Core tip: This is a comprehensive review and an update on recent progresses in understanding the role of tumor microenvironment in the growth, invasion and metastasis of pancreatic cancer. The role of tumor microenvironment in anti-tumor immune response and treatment of pancreatic cancer is also reviewed. How our knowledge in tumor microenvironment is translated into the development of pancreatic cancer therapy is discussed.