Targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) with small molecule inhibitors or monoclonal antibodies in combination with chemotherapy and radiation is a theoretically appealing strategy in pancreatic cancer. EGFR inhibitors have shown efficacy as radiosensitizers and activity against metastatic pancreatic cancer when combined with gemcitabine. This paper examines the available clinical...

Pancreatic cancer - here in particular pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) - is still a highly therapy refractory disease. Amongst the mechanisms by which PDAC cells could escape any non-surgical therapy, anti-apoptotic protection seems to be the most relevant one. PDAC cells have acquired resistance to apoptotic stimuli such as death ligands (FasL, TRAIL) or anti-cancer drugs (gemcitabine)...

It is well known that pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a dismal prognosis, which can be explained by both an inherently aggressive biology and a lack of effective chemotherapeutics. As a result, there is strong rationale for the development of effective preventive interventions in high risk populations. Chronic pancreatitis increases the risk of developing PDAC more than fifteen fold...

The ability to escape apoptosis or programmed cell death is a hallmark of human cancers, for example pancreatic cancer. This can promote tumorigenesis, since too little cell death by apoptosis disturbs tissue homeostasis. Additionally, defective apoptosis signaling is the underlying cause of failure to respond to current treatment approaches, since therapy-mediated antitumor activity requires t...

Pancreatic cancer is a highly aggressive and deadly disease harboring a distinct population of cancer stem cells (CSC) that is not affected by conventional therapies. A new therapeutic approach using the EpCAM/CD3-bispecific antibody MT110 is capable of activating and redirecting cytotoxic T cells to eliminate primary human pancreatic cancer stem cells, which resulted in long-term survival of p...

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the USA, accounting for ~40,000 deaths annually. The dismal prognosis for PDAC is largely due to its late diagnosis. Currently, the most sensitive diagnosis of PDAC requires invasive procedures, such as endoscopic ultrasonography, which has inherent risks and accuracy that is highly operator dependent. Here w...