KRAS, Hedgehog, Wnt and the twisted developmental biology of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

JP Morris IV, SC Wang, M Hebrok - Nature Reviews Cancer, 2010 - nature.com
JP Morris IV, SC Wang, M Hebrok
Nature Reviews Cancer, 2010nature.com
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by near-universal mutations in
KRAS and frequent deregulation of crucial embryonic signalling pathways, including the
Hedgehog (Hh) and Wnt–β-catenin cascades. The creation of mouse models that closely
resemble the human disease has provided a platform to better understand when and in
which cell types these pathways are misregulated during PDAC development. Here we
examine the central part that KRAS plays in the biology of PDAC, and how the timing and …
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by near-universal mutations in KRAS and frequent deregulation of crucial embryonic signalling pathways, including the Hedgehog (Hh) and Wnt–β-catenin cascades. The creation of mouse models that closely resemble the human disease has provided a platform to better understand when and in which cell types these pathways are misregulated during PDAC development. Here we examine the central part that KRAS plays in the biology of PDAC, and how the timing and location of Hh and Wnt–β-catenin signalling dictate the specification and oncogenic properties of PDAC.
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