Open Access

Treatment optimization of locally advanced and metastatic pancreatic cancer (Review)

  • Authors:
    • Anabela G. Barros
    • Catarina F. Pulido
    • Manuela Machado
    • Maria José Brito
    • Nuno Couto
    • Olga Sousa
    • Sónia A. Melo
    • Hélder Mansinho
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: December 2, 2021     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2021.5290
  • Article Number: 110
  • Copyright: © Barros et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal malignant tumor types, being the sixth leading cause of mortality worldwide and the fourth in Europe. Globally, it has a mortality/incidence ratio of 98%, and the 5‑year survival rate in Europe is only 3%. Although risk factors, such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, smoking, alcohol consumption and genetic factors, have been identified, the causes of PDAC remain elusive. Additionally, the only curative treatment for PDAC is surgery with negative margins. However, upon diagnosis, ~30% of the patients already present with locally advanced disease. In these cases, a multidisciplinary approach is required to improve disease‑related symptoms and prolong patient survival. In the present article, a comprehensive review of PDAC epidemiology, physiology and treatment is provided. Moreover, guidelines on patient treatment are suggested. Among the different available therapeutic options for the treatment of advanced PDAC, results are modest, most likely due to the complexity of the disease, and so the prognostic remains poor. Molecular approaches based on multi‑omics research are promising and will contribute to groundbreaking personalized medicine. Thus, economic investment that promotes research of pancreatic cancer will be critical to the development of more efficient diagnostic and treatment strategies.
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December-2021
Volume 59 Issue 6

Print ISSN: 1019-6439
Online ISSN:1791-2423

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Spandidos Publications style
Barros AG, Pulido CF, Machado M, Brito MJ, Couto N, Sousa O, Melo SA and Mansinho H: Treatment optimization of locally advanced and metastatic pancreatic cancer (Review). Int J Oncol 59: 110, 2021
APA
Barros, A.G., Pulido, C.F., Machado, M., Brito, M.J., Couto, N., Sousa, O. ... Mansinho, H. (2021). Treatment optimization of locally advanced and metastatic pancreatic cancer (Review). International Journal of Oncology, 59, 110. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2021.5290
MLA
Barros, A. G., Pulido, C. F., Machado, M., Brito, M. J., Couto, N., Sousa, O., Melo, S. A., Mansinho, H."Treatment optimization of locally advanced and metastatic pancreatic cancer (Review)". International Journal of Oncology 59.6 (2021): 110.
Chicago
Barros, A. G., Pulido, C. F., Machado, M., Brito, M. J., Couto, N., Sousa, O., Melo, S. A., Mansinho, H."Treatment optimization of locally advanced and metastatic pancreatic cancer (Review)". International Journal of Oncology 59, no. 6 (2021): 110. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2021.5290