Surveillance of Individuals at High Risk for Developing Pancreatic Cancer

Abstract

We still face great difficulties to treat and cure patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (henceforth referred to as pancreatic cancer). The survival is dismal even in those who undergo intended curative surgery in case of a localized tumor. Despite the relatively low incidence of 9-12 per 100.000 per year in Western populations (approximate lifetime-risk 1.0%), pancreatic cancer is ranked among the top five causes of cancer-related death in Western populations . Unfortunately, as clearly demonstrated by Figure 1, major efforts in the fields of surgery and (neo)adjuvant treatment have not yielded a significant improvement in prognosis. With a mean survival of less than 6 months and an overall 5-year survival of less than 6%, patients with pancreatic cancer still face one of the worst prognosis of all human cancers.