Pancreatic Cancer Is Lethal Malignancy With A Mortality Rate

Pancreatic cancer is lethal malignancy with a mortality rate that almost equals its incidence. It is the 4th leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, with only a 5-year survival rate of about 6%. Pancreatic cancer remains to be one of the most aggressive tumors. When diagnosed 60-80% patients already have locally advanced or the tumor has already metastasized. A majority of pancreatic cancers are derived from the exocrine part of the pancreas. The exocrine part of the pancreas produces digestive enzymes that help break down proteins, fats, and starches. There are several mutations that have been identified in pancreatic cancer; these mutations can lead to potential biomarkers, leading towards a better prognosis for high risk patients. A majority of exocrine pancreatic cancer patients exhibit a mutation in the proto-oncogene K-RAS (A.M. Lowy et al. 2008) and mutations in gene p16. K-RAS is a member of the RAS family of GTP-binding proteins; they’re essential in the role of cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival (Campbell et al. 1998; Malumbres and Barbacid 2003). Several studies have been able to identify the point mutation in K-RAS that are almost exclusively seen in pancreatic cancer. Point mutations at codon 12 (from CGT to GAT or GTT,) result in substitution of glycine with aspartate, valine, or arginine leading to an overactive K-RAS pathway. Once activated, K-RAS recruits and activates necessary proteins for the production of growthShow MoreRelatedVitamin C And Its Effect On Human Body9946 Words   |  40 Pagesalso resulted in iron absorption and hemoglobin levels in blood thus adversely affecting the oxygen carrying capacity of red blood cells. The reduced rate of riboflavin in pregnant women can induce multiple developmental deformities in the fetus. Some studies also report different adverse effects of deficiency of Riboflavin in different cancers. 1.2.3. Vitamin B3 or Niacin Niacin is a general term used for all the compounds which resemble the activity of vitamin B3. Vitamin B3 contain