Evidence mapPaperPMID 41789626Full record

ReviewInternational journal of oncology2026

Pancreatic cancer EMT‑targeted therapy: Molecular mechanisms and clinical translation (Review).

Guirui Zhang, Yongmo Wu, Mingzhen Wei, Shupeng Huang, Qinghao Wang, Zhengyi Xie, Sisi Liu, Jin Wang

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in International journal of oncology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Guirui Zhang *Guangxi University of Science and Technology, Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 545005, P.R. China.
Yongmo Wu *Guangxi University of Science and Technology, Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 545005, P.R. China.
Mingzhen Wei *Guangxi University of Science and Technology, Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 545005, P.R. China.
Shupeng Huang *Guangxi University of Science and Technology, Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 545005, P.R. China.
Qinghao Wang *Guangxi University of Science and Technology, Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 545005, P.R. China.
Zhengyi XieGuangxi University of Science and Technology, Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 545005, P.R. China.
Sisi LiuGuangxi University of Science and Technology, Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 545005, P.R. China.
Jin WangGuangxi University of Science and Technology, Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 545005, P.R. China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains one of the most lethal malignancies, with a dismal 5‑year survival rate of ~9%, primarily due to late diagnosis, aggressive metastasis and profound resistance to conventional therapies. Epithelial‑mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been identified as a pivotal driver of these malignant phenotypes, facilitating early invasion, dissemination and treatment failure. The present review systematically elaborated on the multidimensional mechanisms underlying EMT in PDAC, emphasizing its operation as a spectrum of hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal states rather than a binary switch. Key molecular mechanisms include the activation of core transcription factors (such as Snail, ZEB, Twist), intricate crosstalk within the tumor microenvironment (such as transforming growth factor-β and hepatocyte growth factor signaling from stromal cells) and dynamic epigenetic reprogramming. Furthermore, EMT critically contributes to the acquisition of cancer stem cell properties and enhances the survival and colonization of circulating tumor cells. The present review also outlined emerging translational strategies targeting EMT‑related pathways, highlighting agents such as STNM01 that have entered early-phase clinical trials. By synthesizing unprecedented insights into EMT's plastic spectrum states and subtype‑specific regulatory networks, this work establishes a paradigm‑shifting framework for advancing EMT‑targeted therapies; offering transformative potential to overcome PDAC's historical therapeutic barriers and substantially improve patient survival outcomes. By synthesizing current insights from molecular pathways to therapeutic applications, the present review confirmed EMT as a promising therapeutic target and provides a strategic framework for advancing PDAC treatment, with the ultimate goal of improving clinical outcomes.

Indexed as

Antineoplastic AgentsCarcinoma, Pancreatic DuctalEpithelial-Mesenchymal TransitionMolecular Targeted TherapyPancreatic NeoplasmsAnimalsGene Expression Regulation, NeoplasticHumansNeoplastic Stem CellsSignal TransductionTranslational Research, BiomedicalTumor MicroenvironmentAntineoplastic Agentsclinical translationepithelial‑mesenchymal transitionmolecular signaling pathwayspancreatic ductal adenocarcinomatargeted therapy

Identifiers

PMID41789626
PMCPMC13004435

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.