The pancreatic cancer microenvironment: A true double agent

Abstract

The tumor microenvironment in pancreatic cancer is a complex balance of pro- and anti-tumor components.

The dense desmoplasia consists of immune cells, extracellular matrix, growth factors, cytokines, and cancer associated fibroblasts (CAF) or pancreatic stellate cells (PSC).

There are a multitude of targets including hyaluronan, angiogenesis, focal adhesion kinase (FAK), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), CD40, chemokine (C-X-C motif) receptor 4 (CXCR-4), immunotherapy, and Vitamin D.

The developing clinical therapeutics will be reviewed.

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See also:

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