ADAM10 Proteases and Pancreatic Cancer

Abstract

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the 4th leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States and is expected to rise to the second rank by 2020.1 The survival rate of PDAC is estimated at less than 5% and the high mortality rate is attributed to the as-ymptomatic progression and aggressive nature of the tumor, which exhibit locally advanced or metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis. Majority of the pancreatic cancers are PDACs and are characterized by a fibrotic tumor stroma.