Advances in Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
James Grant, M.D.
| 3 min read
James D. Grant, M.D., is executive vice president an...
Key Takeaways
- Pancreatic cancer is the 10th most common type of cancer in the United States but the third most common cause of cancer death.
- A new blood test panel correctly identified about 97% of early-stage pancreatic cancer cases in a recent study, signaling a step forward in early detection.
- Ongoing imaging surveillance such as MRI or ultrasound for patients at high risk can spot tumors before they spread, which has been linked to longer life expectancy.
Pancreatic cancer tends to be a more aggressive form of cancer that progresses faster than other forms. However, advances in diagnostic tools and treatment are providing some new options for patients that can make detection and treatment more effective.
What is pancreatic cancer?
The pancreas is an organ that produces hormones that help control blood sugar levels and substances that help your body digest food. It is located in the upper right part of your abdomen. In more than 90% of cases, pancreatic cancer is in the exocrine cells that produce digestive substances.
Pancreatic cancer is difficult to detect early. There are usually no symptoms in the early stages of the disease. Or, symptoms may be mild and feel similar to many other general illnesses. In addition, there is no standard screening test for pancreatic cancer.
As the cancer progresses, symptoms might include:
- jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes)
- light-colored stools
- dark urine
- loss of appetite
- fatigue
- pain in the upper or middle abdomen and back
- weight loss for no known reason
Pancreatic cancer is the 10th most common type of cancer in the United States, with about 67,000 new cases estimated annually. Yet, because it tends to be fast-growing, and because it’s often detected in later stages, pancreatic cancer is the third most common cause of cancer death.
The prognosis improves when pancreatic cancer is diagnosed and treated earlier. And that’s where advances in diagnosis and treatment offer some hope.
Improvements in detection
When pancreatic cancer is found and treated before the tumor spreads, the survival time is longer. Pancreatic cancer has the potential to be curable when it is found very early.
One recent study from a California-based cancer center showed promising work on a blood test to detect early-stage pancreatic cancer. In the study, a blood test that analyzed RNA accurately detected both early and late-stage pancreatic cancer in a highly diverse patient population. When combined with another blood test to detect a specific type of protein, it correctly identified97% of people with early-stage pancreatic cancer.
In patients who are at high risk of developing pancreatic cancer, early research is leading toward conclusions that regular surveillance with imaging tests such as MRI and ultrasound is more likely to detect pancreatic cancer in earlier stages. Those who were monitored like this had a longer life expectancy than those who were not.
New treatment methods
Pancreatic cancer is usually treated using a combination of therapies including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and targeted therapy drugs. Treatment is individualized to each patient, and the therapies used depend on many individual factors such as tumor size, location, stage and more.
A new option that combines chemotherapy with a specific type of targeted therapy drug called a KRAS inhibitor is showing promise. More than 90% of pancreatic cancers have a mutation of the KRAS gene, which can cause cancer cells to grow and spread to other parts of the body.
Two recent studies have suggested that giving chemotherapy in addition to KRAS inhibitor drugs increase the effectiveness of the KRAS inhibitor. When used together, tumors grew and spread more slowly.
Hope and progress
While pancreatic cancer remains an aggressive and fast-growing disease, ongoing research is providing promising new options for both earlier detection and more effective treatment. These new tools offer opportunities to extend life expectancy and improve a patient’s quality of life.
Image: Getty Images
Related:
- Is There a Link Between Sleep Disorders and Alzheimer’s?
- Biosimilars Save Members More Than 90% Over Brand-name Specialty Drugs in 2025
- Increasing Incidences of Breast Cancer in Younger Adults
