On the surface this would seem to be a fairly straight forward question, but as there exists the controversy of competing nomenclatures, it is not as simple as one might think. In fact, in the U. S., universal agreement on a standardized staging system does not exist.

The pancreas is a small, spongy organ which lies just under the curvature of the stomach and deep within the abdomen. The function of the pancreas is a complicated, but one could say that it primarily does two things. It produces enzymes which are useful for the digestion of food AND it secretes hormones which, among other things, help maintain and regulate body sugar levels.

Generally, the most common symptoms of adenocarcinoma of the pancreas include loss-of-appetite, weight loss, abdominal discomfort and nausea. As these are all fairly non-specific symptoms, there is often delay in getting to the final diagnosis. The most common physical sign of pancreatic cancer is jaundice, with or without associated itching. Preceding to a medical evaluation often requires a high index of suspicion by the patient or by medical personnel.

Surgery for adenocarcinoma of the pancreas is only offered to patients whose tumor is localized and meets other criteria (please note earlier FAQ answers). Only about 15-20% of those individuals with pancreatic cancer will be found to be eligible for surgery. In these cases, surgical resection (removal) of the tumor from the pancreas (and resection of select surrounding tissues) gives the best chance for a cure and generally confers a better overall prognosis in contrast to medical therapy.

There are no universally agreed upon firm guidelines for medical treatment for those patients with adenocarcinoma of the pancreas who are not candidates for surgery or who have a recurrence of the cancer after surgical resection. In part, this is because there is no one great treatment option-there are a number of treatment approaches which may be more or less appropriate, given certain variables.

The difficulty in discussing this topic is not because there are too few, but rather as there are so many creative experimental clinical trials which are occurring with newer agents and combinations against pancreatic cancer. However, it is important to note that many agents in that past have looked promising, only to show no advantage by the end of phase III clinical trials. These are experimental therapies, and can be highly risky.

Although we understand the possible benefits of some alternative therapies, this website is not strongly oriented this way. On an anecdotal basis only, we have heard of positive experiences that patients have had with the treatment of symptoms related to pancreatic cancer (and chemotherapy) involving such approaches as visualization therapy, prayer, acupuncture, green tea and Chinese herbs.

Cancer of the pancreas is difficult to detect early. Often, tumors in the pancreas do not cause noticeable symptoms. You should consult a doctor if you have any of the following symptoms:

Cancer can be detected in the early stages by Screening and by seeking prompt medical attention for any worrying symptoms. Screening: refers to examination and investigation of persons without any symptoms or signs suggestive of cancer with a view to detect cases of cancer before they cause symptoms. It is expected that by this approach cancers can be detected at a very early stage and thus lead to a much higher chance of cure.

To find the cause of a person's symptoms, the doctor performs a physical exam and asks about the person's medical history. In addition to checking general signs of health, the doctor may perform blood, urine and stool tests. Doctors may perform several tests that involve taking pictures of the pancreas and surrounding tissues and organs to help with diagnosis. These are called imaging tests. Imaging tests include Upper GI series, CT scanning, MRI, Ultrasonography and ERCP.

Majority of patients are free of pain and other symptoms in the early stages. This asymptomatic stage leads to a delay in seeking medical attention and allows disease progression unchecked. There is also a reluctance to entertain and accept this diagnosis even when there are obvious pointers in this direction. As a result, most patients present with advanced disease.

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When a physician diagnoses liver cancer, the next step is to determine how far the cancer cells have spread (a process called staging). The National Cancer Institute defines the following stages for primary liver cancer:

The Pancreatic Cancer Research Map allows visitors to search a comprehensive list of investigators and research projects relevant to pancreatic cancer. The Web site enables you to:

Yes. Funding information from participating granting agencies is available on the Funding Opportunities page. In Phase I, NCI funding opportunities will be posted as they are released. Private funders will begin posting opportunities in the first quarter of 2005. Funding opportunities from private funders will be posted as they are released.

In early 2005, grants and funding opportunities from both the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) and the Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer were added to the portfolio. In addition, we are already speaking to other organizations about joining the collaboration. Throughout 2005, the Research Map Web site will be adding new functionality to provide more tools, resources, and information to assist in the fight to eliminate pancreatic cancer.

It is difficult to discover what actually causes cancer from one person to another, but researchers have found several specific factors that increase a person’s likelihood of developing pancreatic cancer. Risk factors for pancreatic cancer include: African Americans are more likely to develop cancer of the pancreas than are white Americans or Asian Americans

For a current list of all clinical trials at the OSU Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hosptial and Solove Research Institute, click here.

The Pancreatic Cancer Research Map engages the entire pancreatic cancer community toward a common goal to eliminate suffering and death from this lethal cancer. This collaborative project involves public and private organizations that support pancreatic research and represents a unique and committed partnership of researchers, patients, families and physicians.

It has been estimated that ten percent of pancreatic cancers are hereditary. Many of these occur as part of rare medical syndromes. Lab Tests Online has been designed to help patients to better understand clinical lab tests that are part of routine care as well as diagnosis and treatment. Short review on heredity of breast cancer and testing. Features links to other sites and links to current research at the National Human Genome Research Institute. Majority of colon cancers are not hereditary.

Describes the procedure to gather your family medical history to determine the risks for certain genetic conditions and health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers which can run in families or ethnic groups. Some birth defects may also be inherited.

GEMZAR was first studied in clinical trials in the United States in the early '90s. A year prior to its approval by the FDA in 1996, GEMZAR was made available to doctors for the treatment of pancreatic cancer patients in a "TIND" study (Treatment Investigational New Drug study).

The celiac plexus innervates the lower esophagus, stomach, small intestines, most of the large intestines, liver, pancreas, spleen, adrenal glands, and kidneys. Therefore, by blocking the celiac plexus, you can interrupt the pain fibers from these abdominal organs. The celiac plexus is actually a series of ganglia just in front of the aorta and the 1st and 2nd lumbar vertebrae. A diagnostic block is done first with local anesthetic only.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Tarceva for advanced pancreatic cancer on November 2, 2005.

You can find information on additional clinical trials of Tarceva (erlotinib) by visiting ClinicalTrials.gov