Rationale for MYC imaging and targeting in pancreatic cancer

The incidence and lethality of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) will continue to increase in the next decade. For most patients, chemotherapeutic combination therapies remain the standard of care. The development and successful implementation of precision oncology in other gastrointestinal tumor entities point to opportunities also for PDAC. Therefore, markers linked to specific therapeutic responses and important subgroups of the disease are needed. The MYC oncogene is a relevant driver in PDAC and is linked to drug resistance and sensitivity. Here, we update recent insights into MYC biology in PDAC, summarize the connections between MYC and drug responses, and point to an opportunity to image MYC non-invasively. In sum, we propose MYC-associated biology as a basis for the development of concepts for precision oncology in PDAC.

Automated summary

The incidence and lethality of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) are expected to increase in the next decade, making chemotherapeutic combination therapies the standard of care for most patients. The MYC oncogene is a relevant driver in PDAC, connected to drug resistance and sensitivity, with potential for non-invasive imaging. This suggests that MYC-associated biology could serve as a basis for precision oncology concepts in PDAC.