Proteomic and genomic profiling of pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer remains the most fatal human tumor type. The aggressive tumor biology coupled with the lack of early detection strategies and effective treatment are major reasons for the poor survival rate. Collaborative research efforts have been devoted to understand pancreatic cancer at the molecular level. Large-scale genomic studies have generated important insights into the genetic drivers of pancreatic cancer. In the post-genomic era, protein sequencing of tumor tissue, cell lines, pancreatic juice, and blood from patients with pancreatic cancer has provided a fundament for the development of new diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. The integration of mass spectrometry and genomic sequencing strategies may help characterize protein identities and post-translational modifications that relate to a specific mutation. Consequently, proteomic and genomic techniques have become a compulsory requirement in modern medicine and health care. These types of proteogenomic studies may usher in a new era of precision diagnostics and treatment in patients with pancreatic cancer.