Gene expression in neoplasms of the pancreas: applications to diagnostic pathology

It seems that, lately, every pathology journal has three or four articles documenting the discovery of another genetic alteration or describing global gene expression in a series of cancers. Although these discoveries provide insight into the biology of neoplasia, it is less clear how they can be quickly and efficiently translated to patient care. This review will use neoplasms of the pancreas as a model and show how recent discoveries of genetic alterations and gene expression patterns can have a significant impact on the diagnosis and even treatment of tumors. Emphasis will be placed on applications that are practical and useful to the daily practice of pathology.