later stages of the disease, contributing to its low 5-year survival rate
compared to many other cancers.
The overall 5-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer is 5-10%, and of
those diagnosed when cancer has already spread, stage four, the 5-year
survival rate is just 1%. While improvements have been seen in survival
rates for many other types of cancer, the lack of treatment options for
pancreatic cancer patients means this type of cancer is predicted to become
the second most frequent cause of cancer-related death by 2030.
Experts and surgical oncologists say
“Pancreas cancer is one of the most chemotherapy-resistant tumors. One of
the reasons is that it is typically surrounded by a thickened scar
(fibrosis) which makes chemotherapy penetration difficult. Another reason
is that the majority of patients with pancreas cancer present with advanced
disease at a point where it has already spread.”
Few drugs are available to treat pancreatic cancer, with treatment options
based on drugs designed for other types of cancer.
