Post-Translational Modifications: Key “Regulators” of Pancreatic Cancer Malignant Phenotype—Advances in Mechanisms and Targeted Therapies

Pancreatic cancer is a highly aggressive malignancy characterised by its invasive nature and poor therapeutic outcomes. These characteristics are closely associated with its complex biological characteristics and significant heterogeneity. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) have been identified as critical regulatory mechanisms through which cells respond to environmental changes and play a pivotal role in signal transduction. The various types of PTMs and their intricate regulatory mechanisms have a profound influence on multiple stages of pancreatic cancer progression. Research has demonstrated that PTMs modulate protein stability, activity, subcellular localization, and protein-protein interactions. The present review focuses on recent advances in our understanding of PTMs in pancreatic cancer, with a particular emphasis on phosphorylation, ubiquitination, SUMOylation, acetylation, lactylation, and O-GlcNAcylation. This study illuminates the molecular mechanisms and functional regulatory networks of PTMs within the distinctive tumour microenvironment of pancreatic cancer. Moreover, we summarise targeted therapeutic strategies directed at PTMs in pancreatic cancer to provide insights for future research and treatment development.