Title
Development of the pancreas and pancreatic cancer
UMMS Affiliation
Program in Gene Function and Expression; Program in Molecular Medicine
Date
4-25-2006
Document Type
Article
Medical Subject Headings
Adenocarcinoma; Animals; Disease Models, Animal; Fetal Development; Hedgehog Proteins; Humans; Mice; Pancreas; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Receptors, Notch; Signal Transduction; Trans-Activators
Disciplines
Genetics and Genomics
Abstract
The pancreas is specified during embryonic development from the gut endoderm. Among the signaling pathways required for the proper development of the organ are the notch and hedgehog signaling pathways. Both of these pathways are reactivated in pancreatic cancers, and sustained hedgehog signaling is required for the viability of most pancreatic cancer cell lines. Further, mouse models of the disease show activation of these pathways, and expression of pancreas progenitor markers. These findings indicate that developmentally regulated gene expression programs are important in the pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer.
Rights and Permissions
Citation: Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2006 Jun;35(2):397-404, xi. Link to article on publisher's site