For decades, pancreatic cancer has been synonymous with a bleak outlook. It is the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths, despite being only the tenth most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States. The more advanced the disease is at the point of diagnosis, the more grim are the statistics.
Nature Outlook: Pancreatic cancer
The five-year-survival rate for all stages and types of pancreatic cancer is 13%, up from 7% a decade ago. Although that increase might seem small, any progress against this challenging disease should be celebrated.
Researchers are engaged in myriad efforts to tackle pancreatic cancer and further positive change could be on the horizon. Some of these efforts are focused on detecting the cancer before it has spread, when it might be easier to treat. These include simple blood tests that can spot proteins that are characteristic of the disease, as well as non-invasive breath tests. Other teams are trying to expand the pool of available therapies to include personalized vaccines that unleash the immune system on the proteins that drive a person’s cancer.
Scientists are also working to uncover hidden truths about how pancreatic cancer stakes a claim on the body. In the past decade or so, for instance, researchers have begun to learn how pancreatic tumours harness the nervous system to thrive in low-oxygen conditions and suppress the immune system. As researchers’ understanding improves, these survival strategies could be leveraged to design therapies.
Underlying all these endeavours are improved ways to model the disease. Pancreatic organoids — miniature versions of the organ that are cultured in a dish — are being used to explore what makes pancreatic cancer so deadly. These models can also be engineered to develop tumours that precisely match those found in individuals and that can then be used to test treatments.
We are pleased to acknowledge the financial support of Ipsen Pharma US and Botton-Champalimaud Pancreatic Cancer Centre in producing this Outlook. As always, Nature retains sole responsibility for all editorial content.