Understanding pancreatic cancer stem cells and their role in carcinogenesis: a narrative review.

Objective: The purpose of this review article is to describe the pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer and to better understand the role of abnormal stem cells in the development of pancreatic cancer.

Background: Pancreatic cancer is a highly fatal disease that is caused by the uncontrolled proliferation of pancreatic exocrine or neuroendocrine glands. It is believed that pancreatic cancers arise from a small population of abnormal cancer stem cells (CSCs) that promote tumorigenesis, tumor metastasis and therapeutic resistance. The molecular markers CD133, CXCR4, DCLK1, c-MET, ABCG2 and Lgr5 are routinely used to detected and observe the behaviours of pancreatic cancer stem cells (PCSCs).

Methods: A comprehensive search was performed on PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Clinicaltrials.gov and Web of Science using related keywords. Articles focusing on PCSCs and pancreatic cancer pathogenesis, biochemistry and clinical trials were selected.

Conclusions: Although very little is known about the exact cause of pancreatic cancer, PCSCs seem to play an important role in carcinogenesis. Mutated biochemical cascades include Sonic Hedgehog, K-RAS-JNK, DLL4/Notch and Nodal/Activin. Several clinical trials are trying to determine if the transplantation of hematopoietic stem cell or peripheral stem cells could be useful for the treatment of such an aggressive tumor.