The Role of Genetic, Metabolic, Inflammatory, and Immunologic Mediators in the Progression of Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms to Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

Simple Summary Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) are benign pancreatic cysts found in the ducts of the pancreas that have the potential to become malignant. Identifying IPMNs that have high potential to become pancreatic cancer may help prevent unnecessary surgery which is the definitive treatment of IPMNs. Currently, the management of IPMNs are dependent on variable factors including characteristics of the cyst, size of the pancreatic duct, and the presence or absence of obstructive jaundice. Identifying potential biomarkers may help more accurately distinguish high risk IPMNs from low risk IPMNs that do not need surgical intervention. This review summarized the various changes within IPMNs that promotes their progression to pancreatic adenocarcinoma. In addition, this review highlighted potential biomarkers that can distinguish IPMNs that have a high risk of becoming cancerous. Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) have the potential to progress to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). As with any progression to malignancy, there are a variety of genetic and metabolic changes, as well as other disruptions to the cellular microenvironment including immune alterations and inflammation, that can contribute to tumorigenesis. Previous studies further characterized these alterations, revealing changes in lipid and glucose metabolism, and signaling pathways that mediate the progression of IPMN to PDAC. With the increased diagnosis of IPMNs and pancreatic cysts on imaging, the opportunity to attenuate risk with the removal of high-risk lesions is possible with the understanding of what factors accelerate malignant progression and how they can be clinically utilized to determine the level of dysplasia and stratify the risk of progression. Here, we reviewed the genetic, metabolic, inflammatory, and immunologic pathways regulating the progression of IPMN to PDAC.