Preface

**Section 3 A Novel Approach to Treatment 157**

Meuillet

**VI** Contents

Chapter 7 **Metformin and Pancreatic Cancer Metabolism 159**

Mary Jo Cantoria, Hitendra Patel, Laszlo G. Boros and Emmanuelle J.

Pancreatic cancer is difficult to diagnose early, treat effectively, and has a particularly poor prognosis, making it one of the most lethal forms of human cancers. In fact, pancreatic can‐ cer is currently the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. De‐ spite its steady increasing incidence, the underlying molecular mechanisms that contribute to the development of this devastating malignancy are still largely unknown. Consequently, there is a considerable effort currently underway to uncover the molecular basis for the de‐ velopment and progression of pancreatic cancer.

The major purpose of this book is to provide the reader with a better understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms and novel linkages that contribute to pancreatic carcino‐ genesis and metastasis, the identification of novel approaches for improved earlier detection of pancreatic cancer, and evidence for a potentially novel approach to treatment.

This book presents an update on recent findings related to the underlying molecular mecha‐ nisms responsible for the development and progression of pancreatic cancer. This book also informs the reader about the link between obesity and pancreatic cancer and how Metfor‐ min, a well-known and widely used anti-diabetic drug, may also be a novel approach to the treatment of pancreatic cancer. Moreover, insight into novel approaches for improved earli‐ er detection of pancreatic cancer are also found herein.

As with previous books in this series, we hope that this book will be informative and useful to patients, scientists, clinicians and others, and that it will serve as an invaluable source of information in the quest for a better understanding of the basic biology and clinical ap‐ proaches to the earlier diagnosis and novel approaches to the treatment of pancreatic malig‐ nancies.

> **Kelly D. McCall, PhD** Department of Specialty Medicine Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine Athens, Ohio USA

**Section 1**

**Molecular Mechanisms**
