Desmoplastic Reaction in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Abstract

Despite significant effort and research funds, Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains one of the deadliest diseases. This cancer is characterized by a distinct des-moplastic reaction that constitutes 80% of the tumor volume. Accumulating evidences suggests that the stromal compartment in which the cancer cells are embedded contributes to many clini-cal characteristics of pancreatic cancer. The stromal compartment is comprised of abundant extracellular matrix (ECM), fibroblasts, stellate cells, immune cells, nerve cells, growth factors and cytokines. To date, desmoplastic reaction components have been shown not only to con-tribute to the growth and metastasis of pancreatic cancer but also to chemotherapy resistance. Therefore, further assessment of stroma-targeted therapies and their translation into clinical situation may open a new era in pancreatic cancer management.