The Role of Inactivation in Epithelial-Mesenchymal Plasticity of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: The Missing Link?

Overview

Journal Cancers (Basel)

Publisher MDPI

Specialty Oncology

Date 2022 Feb 25

PMID 35205719

Authors

Marie-Lucie Racu

Laetitia Lebrun

Andrea Alex Schiavo

Claude Van Campenhout

Sarah De Clercq

Lara Absil

Esmeralda Minguijon Perez

Calliope Maris

Christine Decaestecker

Isabelle Salmon

Nicky DHaene

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) presents a five-year survival rate of 10% and its incidence increases over the years. It is, therefore, essential to improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that promote metastasis and chemoresistance in PDAC, which are the main causes of death in these patients. is inactivated in 50% of PDACs and its loss has been associated with worse overall survival and metastasis, although some controversy still exists. SMAD4 is the central signal transducer of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) pathway, which is notably known to play a role in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). EMT is a biological process where epithelial cells lose their characteristics to acquire a spindle-cell phenotype and increased motility. EMT has been increasingly studied due to its potential implication in metastasis and therapy resistance. Recently, it has been suggested that cells undergo EMT transition through intermediary states, which is referred to as epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity (EMP). The intermediary states are characterized by enhanced aggressiveness and more efficient metastasis. Therefore, this review aims to summarize and analyze the current knowledge on SMAD4 loss in patients with PDAC and to investigate its potential role in EMP in order to better understand its function in PDAC carcinogenesis.

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