The role of S100 proteins and their receptor RAGE in pancreatic cancer

•Many S100 proteins are up-regulated in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.•RAGE contributes to pancreatic tumorigenesis.•Blocking RAGE/S100 interactions is a promising therapeutic approach.

ABSTRACTPancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a devastating disease with low survival rates. Current therapeutic treatments have very poor response rates due to the high inherent chemoresistance of the pancreatic-cancer cells. Recent studies have suggested that the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) and its S100 protein ligands play important roles in the progression of PDAC. We will discuss the potential role of S100 proteins and their receptor, RAGE, in the development and progression of pancreatic cancer.