The results of a recent publication in the Annals of Oncology suggest that unlike most cancers, the death rate of pancreatic cancer continues to climb. It is likely that one of the key reasons for this is that it is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage, when curative treatment is unlikely. It can remain silent with very few symptoms in the early stages and has a high propensity to spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. Once this cancer has spread, cure is usually not possible.

Dr Nick Maisey, Consultant Oncologist in gastrointestinal cancers commented “Although there have been some steps forward in recent years in the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer, the improvement in prognosis has been marginal. The key in reducing the impact of this difficult disease is likely to be in prevention and early detection. It is now recognised that there are a number of pre-disposing factors including obesity, diabetes, alcohol excess and smoking. Reducing these risk factors is likely to impact on the incidence of pancreatic cancer.

There is also on-going research looking at ways of detecting pancreatic cancer early, at a stage when a curative operation may be possible. These include the use of endoscopic ultrasound technology in high risk groups and the development of special blood tests that can detect traces of the DNA of cancer cells. Currently there are no validated screening programmes for pancreatic cancer but it is hoped that in the future this may have an impact on the survival for patients with this difficult disease.”

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