|
1
|
Bazzichetto C, Conciatori F, Luchini C, Simionato F, Santoro R, Vaccaro V, Corbo V, Falcone I, Ferretti G, Cognetti F, Melisi D, Scarpa A, Ciuffreda L, Milella M. From Genetic Alterations to Tumor Microenvironment: The Ariadne's String in Pancreatic Cancer. Cells 2020; 9:cells9020309. [PMID: 32012917 PMCID: PMC7072496 DOI: 10.3390/cells9020309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 01/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The threatening notoriety of pancreatic cancer mainly arises from its negligible early diagnosis, highly aggressive progression, failure of conventional therapeutic options and consequent very poor prognosis. The most important driver genes of pancreatic cancer are the oncogene KRAS and the tumor suppressors TP53, CDKN2A, and SMAD4. Although the presence of few drivers, several signaling pathways are involved in the oncogenesis of this cancer type, some of them with promising targets for precision oncology. Pancreatic cancer is recognized as one of immunosuppressive phenotype cancer: it is characterized by a fibrotic-desmoplastic stroma, in which there is an intensive cross-talk between several cellular (e.g., fibroblasts, myeloid cells, lymphocytes, endothelial, and myeloid cells) and acellular (collagen, fibronectin, and soluble factors) components. In this review; we aim to describe the current knowledge of the genetic/biological landscape of pancreatic cancer and the composition of its tumor microenvironment; in order to better direct in the intrinsic labyrinth of this complex tumor type. Indeed; disentangling the genetic and molecular characteristics of cancer cells and the environment in which they evolve may represent the crucial step towards more effective therapeutic strategies
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Bazzichetto
- Medical Oncology 1, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy; (C.B.); (V.V.); (I.F.); (G.F.); (F.C.)
| | - Fabiana Conciatori
- Medical Oncology 1, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy; (C.B.); (V.V.); (I.F.); (G.F.); (F.C.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-06-52665185
| | - Claudio Luchini
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Section of Pathology, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy;
| | - Francesca Simionato
- Division of Oncology, University of Verona, 37126 Verona, Italy; (F.S.); (M.M.)
| | - Raffaela Santoro
- Medicine-Digestive Molecular Clinical Oncology Research Unit, University of Verona, 37126 Verona, Italy; (R.S.); (D.M.)
| | - Vanja Vaccaro
- Medical Oncology 1, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy; (C.B.); (V.V.); (I.F.); (G.F.); (F.C.)
| | - Vincenzo Corbo
- ARC-Net Research Centre, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, 37126 Verona, Italy; (V.C.); (A.S.)
| | - Italia Falcone
- Medical Oncology 1, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy; (C.B.); (V.V.); (I.F.); (G.F.); (F.C.)
| | - Gianluigi Ferretti
- Medical Oncology 1, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy; (C.B.); (V.V.); (I.F.); (G.F.); (F.C.)
| | - Francesco Cognetti
- Medical Oncology 1, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy; (C.B.); (V.V.); (I.F.); (G.F.); (F.C.)
| | - Davide Melisi
- Medicine-Digestive Molecular Clinical Oncology Research Unit, University of Verona, 37126 Verona, Italy; (R.S.); (D.M.)
| | - Aldo Scarpa
- ARC-Net Research Centre, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, 37126 Verona, Italy; (V.C.); (A.S.)
| | - Ludovica Ciuffreda
- SAFU, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics, and Technological Innovation, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy;
| | - Michele Milella
- Division of Oncology, University of Verona, 37126 Verona, Italy; (F.S.); (M.M.)
| |
Collapse
|