Cytokine Growth Factor Rev. 2026 Oct 15;92:101535. doi: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2026.101535. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Pancreatic development is a tightly orchestrated process driven by the concerted action of multiple signaling pathways. Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) serve as pivotal cues across its stages: they engage FGF receptors (FGFRs) to activate downstream ERK/MAPK, PI3K-AKT, and PLCĪ³ cascades, thereby governing pancreatic progenitor proliferation, differentiation, and functional maturation. The spatiotemporal expression of FGFs is precisely coupled to developmental milestones and intertwined with Notch, Wnt, and Hedgehog signaling in a complex regulatory network. This review systematically summarizes the molecular architecture and signal transduction of the FGF family, delineates its roles in pancreatic spatiotemporal dynamics, cell-fate determination, and maturation, examines how aberrant FGF signaling contributes to pancreatic cancer, diabetes, and pancreatitis, and reviews current FGF/FGFR-targeted therapies alongside their challenges. Future work must surmount technical bottlenecks and dissect cell-specific FGF mechanisms to underpin precision medicine for pancreatic disorders.
PMID:42896447 | DOI:10.1016/j.cytogfr.2026.101535