The molecular basis of pancreatic cancer

Carcinoma of the pancreas (PC) is an aggressive disease with a poor prognosis and an overall 5-year survival of less than 1%, making it the 4 to 5 leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the Western world. Surgery remains the only treatment option with a chance for cure, whereas radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy as well as newer experimental therapeutic modalities, such as antihormonal therapy or systemic use of anti-pancreatic cancer cell monoclonal antibodies, have not led to a substantial improvement in patient survival.