Drivers of Gene Expression Dysregulation in Pancreatic Cancer

Swati Venkat1, Abdulrahman A Alahmari2, Michael E Feigin1

  • 1Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, USA.

Trends in Cancer
|February 23, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a deadly cancer. Understanding gene expression changes beyond genetics, like epigenetic factors, is key to developing new treatments and personalizing patient care.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Genetics

Background:

  • Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) presents a significant clinical challenge due to its poor prognosis.
  • While genetic mutations are well-studied, non-genetic factors also drive PDAC progression and treatment resistance.
  • Tumor heterogeneity in PDAC necessitates a deeper understanding of gene expression regulation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current knowledge on mechanisms of gene expression dysregulation in PDAC.
  • To highlight the role of non-genetic drivers in PDAC pathogenesis.
  • To explore how understanding gene expression can aid in personalized medicine for PDAC.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on PDAC.
  • Analysis of gene expression regulatory mechanisms.
  • Synthesis of findings related to mutations, transcription factors, epigenetic regulators, and RNA regulation.

Main Results:

  • Gene expression is altered by mutations, transcription factors, epigenetic modifications, and RNA stability/isoform regulation in PDAC.
  • These non-genetic factors contribute significantly to PDAC phenotypes and heterogeneity.
  • Insights into these mechanisms are emerging from recent studies.

Conclusions:

  • Gene expression dysregulation is a critical aspect of PDAC pathogenesis.
  • Targeting non-genetic drivers offers potential for novel therapeutic strategies.
  • Understanding these mechanisms is vital for patient stratification and personalized PDAC treatment.

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