Genetic basis of pancreas cancer development and progression: Insights from whole-exome and whole-genome sequencing

Abstract

Pancreatic cancer is caused by inherited and acquired mutations in specific cancer-associated genes. The discovery of the most common genetic alterations in pancreatic cancer has provided insight into the fundamental pathways that drive the progression from a normal cell to noninvasive precursor lesions and finally to widely metastatic disease. In addition, recent genetic discoveries have created new opportunities to develop gene-based approaches for early detection, personalized treatment, and molecular classification of pancreatic neoplasms. ©2012 AACR.