November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month and experts like Andrew Lowy, MD, at Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health, are urging personalized screening and follow-up care for higher-risk individuals.
Pancreatic cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, behind only lung and colorectal cancer. In 2024, an estimated 64,050 new cases of pancreatic cancer will be diagnosed nationwide, with approximately 50,550 deaths expected, according to the American Cancer Society.
As a National Pancreas Foundation Center of Excellence, UC San Diego Health is recognized for delivering top-tier, team-based care for pancreatic disease. The center provides an integrated approach to prevention and early intervention. Diane Simeone, MD, director of Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego Health, is leading the nation’s largest pancreatic cancer early detection study, currently enrolling participants.
Andrew Lowy, MD, clinical director for cancer surgery and chief of the division of surgical oncology at UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center, discussed the latest advancements in pancreatic cancer research, including early detection methods and comprehensive, personalized treatment options.
Noting pancreatic cancer is slightly more common for men than women, Lowy noted it is “not nearly as common as many other cancers.”
Pointing out pancreatic cancer is “more lethal” than most, Lowy added incidences of it are “slowly increasing.”
What’s most difficult about dealing with pancreatic cancer, pointed out Lowy, is that it is a hard disease to diagnose, especially early on, because it “advances more quickly and is biologically more aggressive and difficult to treat.” He added it also “doesn’t respond to chemotherapy” as well as most other cancers.
Pancreatic cancer can be genetically inherited which is a risk factor, said Lowy noting other major risk factors include lifestyle habits such as obesity and cigarette smoking.
Fortunately for victims, the chief of surgical oncology at Moores Cancer Center said UC San Diego has “a very robust program for patients with pancreatic cancer that seeks to take complete care of the patient beyond expertise in surgery. The program offers supervision in nutrition and psychological support with a support group for pancreatic cancer patients.”
Lowy added UC San Diego and Moores are also actively involved in clinical research to try and understand the disease better and find more efficient treatment methods for it. “We also are the lead center in a consortium of over 50 U.S. centers, and multiple countries, researching pancreatic cancer risk and early detection,” he said.
He added: “Dr. Diane Simeone is doing a study of 10,000 at-risk pancreatic cancer patients to understand how we can diagnose patients earlier by working with industry to trial new tests for early detection. We’re excited about improving outcomes for patients and hopefully preventing the disease.”
Presently, the prognosis for pancreatic patients is not good, but slowly improving. “It depends on the stage, it’s very stage-dependent,” Lowy said adding, “Right now, about 13% of patients are alive five years after diagnosis. That has been rising slowly about 1% each year. That’s way too slow.”
Lowy noted there is a very small chance of curing pancreatic cancer where there is early detection, which is the ultimate goal. “If you find it (cancer) when it’s tiny, you have a better chance of getting rid of it,” he pointed out.
“I have patients who’ve been cured of pancreatic cancer, but it’s very difficult. Most patients are not cured.”
But the hope of a research breakthrough to more effectively battle the dread disease remains. “You can’t cure everyone – but you can try,” Lowy concluded. “What you can do is help them live their lives better every day and reach some goals they can set for themselves. You can make the illness as bearable as possible for them and their families.”
