Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive and devastating disease, which is characterized by invasiveness, rapid progression and profound resistance to treatment. It has been best characterized that tumor microenvironment such as hypoxia and nutrient deprivation contributes to cancer progression; however, the role of tumor microenvironment acidification (TMA), a major feature of tumor tissue, has not been intensively studied. Interestingly, clinicopathological clues have recently unraveled that TMA is involved in promoting cancer progression although the exact signaling pathways is poorly understood. In PDAC, the TAM is tightly regulated by proton (H+) transporters and pumps. This review dissects and summarizes the roles of these H+-extruding regulators in facilitating PDAC progression.
Publisher
Asian Medical Press Limited