HBV and HCV infection and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

The role of viruses in adenocarcinoma development

Cancer is a leading public health issue that accounts for million deaths around the world every year. Human cancers contain over 100 types, which are categorized into different groups. Adenocarcinoma is one of those categories of cancer that begins from the glans and involves various tissues such as lung, esophagus, pancreas, prostate and colorectal. A range of risk factors has been identified for the development and progression of adenocarcinomas. One of these risk factors are viruses that serves special mechanisms to affect important host cell factors and tumorigenic pathways, contributing in development and promotion of adenocarcinomas. Here, we summarized the main viruses and their mechanisms implicated in the course of various adenocarcinomas development.

The microbiota and microbiome in pancreatic cancer: more influential than expected

Microbiota is just beginning to be recognized as an important player in carcinogenesis and the interplay among microbes is greater than expected. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly lethal disease for which mortality closely parallels incidence. Early detection would provide the best opportunity to increase survival rates. Specific well-studied oral, gastrointestinal, and intrapancreatic microbes and some kinds of hepatotropic viruses and bactibilia may have potential etiological roles in pancreatic carcinogenesis, or modulating individual responses to oncotherapy. Concrete mechanisms mainly involve perpetuating inflammation, regulating the immune system-microbe-tumor axis, affecting metabolism, and altering the tumor microenvironment. The revolutionary technology of omics has generated insight into cancer microbiomes. A better understanding of the microbiota in PDAC might lead to the establishment of screening or early-stage diagnosis methods, implementation of cancer bacteriotherapy, adjustment of therapeutic efficacy even alleviating the adverse effects, creating new opportunities and fostering hope for desperate PDAC patients.

FAK and paxillin, two potential targets in pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a devastating cancer in large part due to late diagnosis and a lack of effective screening tests. In spite of recent progress in imaging, surgery and new therapeutic options for pancreatic cancer, the overall five-year survival still remains unacceptably low. Numerous studies have shown that focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is activated in many cancers including PDAC and promotes cancer progression and metastasis. Paxillin, an intracellular adaptor protein that plays a key role in cytoskeletal organization, connects integrins to FAK and plays a key role in assembly and disassembly of focal adhesions. Here, we have reviewed evidence in support of FAK as a potential therapeutic target and summarized related combinatorial therapies.