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World J Gastroenterol. Mar 7, 2014; 20(9): 2247-2254
Published online Mar 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i9.2247
Embryonic stem cell factors and pancreatic cancer
Marta Herreros-Villanueva, Luis Bujanda, Daniel D Billadeau, Jin-San Zhang
Marta Herreros-Villanueva, Daniel D Billadeau, Jin-San Zhang, Division of Oncology Research, Schulze Center for Novel Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55905, United States
Marta Herreros-Villanueva, Luis Bujanda, Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital Donostia/Instituto Biodonostia, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Universidad del País Vasco UPV/EHU, 20014 San Sebastián, Spain
Jin-San Zhang, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang Province, China
Author contributions: Zhang JS selected the topic; Herreros-Villanueva M and Zhang JS designed, wrote and edited the manuscrip; Bujanda L and Billadeau DD provided partial funding; all authors approved the manuscript.
Supported by Universidad del Pais Vasco, Instituto Biodonostia, San Sebastian, and CIBERehd (red de enfermedades hepaticas y digestivas); American Cancer Society institutional award; Mayo Clinic Pancreatic Cancer SPORE, No.CA102701
Correspondence to: Jin-San Zhang, MD, PhD, Division of Oncology Research, Schulze Center for Novel Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55905, United States. zhang.jinsan@mayo.edu
Telephone: +1-507-2669310 Fax: +1-507-2665146
Received: October 28, 2013
Revised: December 15, 2013
Accepted: January 14, 2014
Published online: March 7, 2014
Processing time: 129 Days and 11.4 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal human cancer due to its early metastasis and lack of response to chemoradiotherapy. Pancreatic cancer stem cells (CSCs) are implicated in tumorigenesis and metastasis as well as therapy resistance, therefore represent a potential target for effective therapeutic options. Recent publications including our own research demonstrate that key embryonic stem cell (ESC) factors, such as OCT4, NANOG and SOX2, are abbrently expressed in PDAC and contribute to pancreatic CSC-like characteristics, such as self-renewal and de-differentiation. This review aims to summarize our current knowledge on the role of ESC factors particulary SOX2 in regulating pancreatic CSC-like feature and implication for therapy.