1 research outputs found
Metabolic Pathways as a Novel Landscape in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Metabolism plays a fundamental role in both human physiology and pathology, including
pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and other tumors. Anabolic and catabolic processes do
not only have energetic implications but are tightly associated with other cellular activities, such as
DNA duplication, redox reactions, and cell homeostasis. PDAC displays a marked metabolic phenotype
and the observed reduction in tumor growth induced by calorie restriction with in vivo
models supports the crucial role of metabolism in this cancer type. The aggressiveness of PDAC
might, therefore, be reduced by interventions on bioenergetic circuits. In this review, we describe
the main metabolic mechanisms involved in PDAC growth and the biological features that may
favor its onset and progression within an immunometabolic context. We also discuss the need to
bridge the gap between basic research and clinical practice in order to offer alternative therapeutic
approaches for PDAC patients in the more immediate future