As of: March 16, 2024, 4:55 a.m
By: Andreas Beez
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In the fight against pancreatic cancer, specialists are making advances in surgical technology, chemotherapy, radiation, vaccines and early detection.
Five approaches that encourage patients.
Pancreatic cancer is difficult to detect (nine symptoms can be warning signs) and to treat.
This type of tumor is considered particularly treacherous because it initially causes hardly any alarming symptoms, but at the same time it tends to form metastases (secondary tumors in other organs) at a very early stage.
That's why the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is often only made at an advanced stage of the disease, explains Professor Thomas Seufferlein from Ulm University Hospital.
Pancreatic cancer expert Professor Thomas Seufferlein.
© Ulm University Hospital / H.Gra
The prognosis for patients is correspondingly unfavorable: more than 90 percent still die in the first five years after diagnosis.
But now specialists can report progress in the fight against pancreatic cancer - including chemotherapy, surgical techniques and early detection.
The German Society for Gastroentereology, Digestive and Metabolic Diseases (DGVS) provides an overview of the encouraging developments:
1. Chemotherapy: Greater success through combinations of active ingredients
Private lecturer Dr.
Birgit Terjung is a pancreatic cancer expert and spokesperson for the German Society for Gastroenterology, Digestive and Metabolic Diseases (DGVS).
© David van Düren
Pancreatic cancer often cannot be completely removed and has often already spread.
“The previously relatively modest therapeutic successes have been significantly improved through the introduction of combination therapies.
They consist of three or even four active ingredients,” reports PD Dr.
Birgit Terjung from the GFO Kliniken Bonn.
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2. Minimally invasive surgical techniques with robotics enable gentler surgery
With the help of minimally invasive surgical techniques and thanks to the support of robotics, experts can now operate on smaller areas of cancer in the pancreas more gently than before.
“In this way, surgeons can avoid having to remove larger parts of the pancreas in many cases,” explains DGVS expert Seufferlein.
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The pancreas is one of the largest and most important glands.
© Science Photo Library
3. RNA vaccines inhibit tumor growth
The RNA vaccine technology, which has already proven itself in the fight against Corona, now also offers reason for optimism in the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
They are intended to help the immune system recognize and destroy the cancer.
This treatment strategy proved to be successful in an initial study.
“Patients who produced specific T cells directed against their own tumor after surgery for pancreatic cancer experienced a very long period of time without tumor growth again,” reports Seufferlein.
4. Local radiation in addition to chemotherapy for metastases
If the pancreatic cancer has not yet spread too widely, local radiation therapy may be able to help those affected.
It is administered in addition to chemotherapy - to patients with metastases in a few places in the body.
“An initial small study on this was promising,” says DGVS expert Dr.
Birgit Terjung.
However, this new therapeutic approach must now be examined more closely in larger studies.
5. More effective early detection using artificial intelligence
Detecting a source of cancer early is still far too rare.
“An effective screening test like that for breast or colon cancer is currently not possible for pancreatic cancer.
We lack effective instruments for this,” says internist Seufferlein.
That's why specialists are now hoping for the use of artificial intelligence (AI).
In this context, a study that used extensive data from the Danish national patient register is causing a stir.
The result: With the help of AI, people could be identified whose risk of developing pancreatic cancer in the following three years was significantly increased.
The basis for the determination was the diagnosis numbers from their previous medical histories.
According to estimates by the medical society DGVS, this approach could make it possible to use preventive examinations in a much more targeted manner.
Whether and when this will succeed in Germany is still an open question.
Pancreatic cancer: risk factors and alarm signals
According to estimates by the Robert Koch Institute, around 21,000 people develop pancreatic cancer every year.
The causes of pancreatic cancer are currently unknown, but according to information from the German Cancer Aid, there are risk factors.
These include smoking and alcohol.
“The more alcohol a person drinks, the more the risk of developing pancreatic cancer increases.
Excessive alcohol consumption often leads to chronic inflammation of the pancreas, known in technical terms as pancreatitis
is called,” says the cancer charity.
People who suffer from diabetes are also at greater risk.
Experts are also discussing whether a diet high in animal fats could potentially promote the development of pancreatic cancer.
Anyone who drinks a lot of alcohol frequently increases their risk of pancreatic cancer.
© Arno Burgi/dpa
However, it has been proven that heredity can play a role.
If two or more first-degree relatives, such as parents or siblings, are affected, you have an increased risk of pancreatic cancer.
There are no typical warning signs for this tumor disease, but the cancer charity lists some common symptoms: abnormal sensations mainly in the upper and middle abdomen, which radiate into the spine and do not improve, even if you take special medication (e.g. to treat inflammation of the gastric mucosa), progressive weight loss or loss of appetite, nausea, diarrhea or constipation, increased tiredness, reduced performance, night sweats and fever, yellowing of the skin and conjunctiva of the eyes, newly diagnosed diabetes and palpable changes in the abdomen.
Anyone who actually receives a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer should seek treatment at a specialized center - this has been proven to increase the chances of treatment.
This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. It in no way replaces a visit to the doctor. Our editorial team is not allowed to answer individual questions about medical conditions.