Pancreatic Cancer: Current Situation and Challenges

Abstract

Pancreatic cancer, which is characterized as an occult disease, has a high degree of malignancy, and ductal adenocarcinoma accounts for more than 90% of pancreatic cancer.It is accompanied by delayed diagnosis, low resection rate, high mortality rate, and poor prognosis. In recent years, the incidence of pancreatic cancer is on the rise. Because the diagnosis is mostly late, only 10–20% of the patients can be arranged for surgical treatment according to the imaging examination. The 5-year survival rate of patients with pancreatic cancer is only 10–25%. The survival rate of the patients with lymph node metastasis is even lower. It is estimated that by 2030, pancreatic cancer will become the second most common cause of cancer-related mortality in human beings, while the lung cancer will still remain at the top spot in the list.