title: Pancreatic cancer: current understanding of molecular and genetic aetiologies.
abstract: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the few cancers where prognosis has not improved over the past few decades. However, there have been several advances in our understanding of the disease leading to earlier detection and targeted therapeutic treatment. It is now understood that specific somatic and germline mutations lead to the development of the disease, and the risk factors associated with this are clearer. Further, several precursor lesions have been identified which, with early detection and surveillance, allows treatment before the development of carcinoma. PDAC can now be diagnosed with a high sensitivity and specificity following advances in radiology, and treatment can be commenced at an earlier stage of the disease. With continued research we are hopeful that the next decade will see an improved survival rate for all patients with pancreatic cancer.
authors.affiliation: HPB Surgical Unit, Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Tamara M H
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Gall
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Imperial College, London, UK.
authors.forename: Harpreet
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wasan
authors.affiliation: HPB Surgical Unit, Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Long R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Jiao
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D000367:Age Factors; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D007565:Jaundice / Q000209:etiology*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor