Comprehensive Molecular Profiling of Metastatic Pancreatic Adenocarcinomas.

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is often diagnosed late, with an extremely poor prognosis. Treatment options like surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy are rarely curative. Tumor progression from primary to metastatic PDAC remains poorly understood at the molecular level.

METHODS

In the current study, we analyzed the molecular profiles of metastatic PDAC obtained via the Oncomine Comprehensive Assay in comparison to primary PDAC.

RESULTS

The current study cohort consisted of 115 metastatic PDAC cases, of which 71 (62%) cases succeeded in molecular testing while the remaining 44 (38%) cases contained insufficient tumor cells. Molecular profiling of 71 cases revealed a total of 239 molecular alterations, 3.4 alterations per case on average, predominantly in the form of gene mutations. The most common gene mutations included (86%) and (83%) mutations. Gene copy number alterations were also detected in 19 (27%) cases involving genes such as and . Compared to the molecular profiles of primary PDAC reported in our prior study and TCGA database, there seemed to be increased rates of , , , and mutations in the metastatic diseases.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that metastatic PDAC possesses unique genetic characteristics, offering potential therapeutic targets in advanced-stage pancreatic cancer.