Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer death in the United States. Symptoms are typically vague, which can make it difficult to diagnose early, and most cases are identified after age 50. Because these cancers are often caught at a late stage, they can be difficult to treat.

The pancreas is an oblong organ, about six inches long, located in the upper abdomen. It has two major functions:

• The first is to produce digestive enzymes — proteins that help digest food into the small intestine. Cells that perform this function make up the exocrine pancreas.

• The second major function is to produce hormones that are secreted into the blood. These cells make up the endocrine pancreas.

Images courtesy of the National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Endocrine Pancreas

The endocrine pancreas is made up of specialized cells, referred to as islets of Langerhans, that produce hormones. The most important hormone produced is insulin that helps control sugar in the blood. Cancers that begin in islet cells are called islet cell tumors or pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. These tumors are rare and may produce hormones that cause very low or very high blood sugars or symptoms such as stomach pain and severe diarrhea.

Exocrine Pancreas

The exocrine pancreas is made up of ducts and acini, which are small pockets at the end of the ducts. Cells lining the ducts are the most likely to develop cancer, called ductal adenocarcinomas, the most common type of pancreatic cancer.

These two types of tumors are treated very differently.

At UCSF Medical Center, we have specialists who conduct research on both types of pancreatic cancers. We have one of the few pancreas cancer research programs in the nation with a team dedicated to learning more about these tumors and developing better treatments.

For help finding a doctor, contact the Physician Referral Service:

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Medical Center.
Last updated June 3, 2008