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Aberrant transcription factors in the cancers of the pancreas

Md Hafiz Uddin1, Md Najeeb Al-Hallak1, Philip A Philip2

  • 1Department of Oncology, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.

Seminars in Cancer Biology
|September 4, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Transcription factors (TFs) are crucial in gene activation for development. Dysregulated TFs drive pancreatic cancers like PDAC and PanNENs, offering potential therapeutic targets.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Transcription factors (TFs) regulate gene expression essential for organogenesis and cell differentiation.
  • Dysregulation of TF networks can lead to developmental abnormalities and diseases, including malignancies.
  • Understanding oncogenesis mechanisms is vital for developing targeted cancer therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of transcription factors in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (PanNENs).
  • To summarize the therapeutic potential of identified TFs as drug targets in pancreatic cancers.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of current knowledge on TFs in pancreatic cancer.
  • Analysis of TF involvement in key signaling pathways implicated in PDAC and PanNENs.
  • Examination of pre-clinical and clinical data on TF-targeted therapies.

Main Results:

  • Numerous TFs are dysregulated in PDAC and PanNENs, impacting critical cancer hallmarks.
  • Mutated or aberrant TFs abnormally control signaling pathways such as RTK, PI3K-AKT-mTOR, JNK, TGF-β, WNT, SHH, NOTCH, and VEGF.
  • Several TFs have emerged as significant regulators and potential therapeutic targets in pancreatic cancer.

Conclusions:

  • Transcription factors play a critical role in the initiation, progression, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance of pancreatic cancers.
  • Targeting specific TFs presents a promising strategy for novel therapeutic interventions in PDAC and PanNENs.
Keywords:
Drug resistancePancreatic ductal adenocarcinomaPancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasmTherapeutic targetTranscription factors

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