Pancreatic cancer-associated diabetes is an "exosomopathy"

Abstract

Diabetes may be a consequence of pancreatic cancer, preceding cancer diagnosis. The underlying mechanism is the release of exosomes delivering adrenomedullin to β cells, inducing endoplasmic reticulum stress and perturbations in the unfolded protein response, leading to β-cell dysfunction and death. This knowledge could lead to improved diagnostic strategies for pancreatic cancer.