Challenging pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is almost universally fatal and has the highest mortality rate of all solid tumor entities. The annual number of deaths equals the number of newly diagnosed cases despite maximal treatment.

The overall 5-year survival rate of less than 8% has remained almost unchanged over the last 30 years, despite tremendous efforts in preclinical and clinical science. The abysmal prognosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is compounded by its increasing incidence in the western world; already in the next decade, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is predicted to become the second leading cause of cancer deaths.