The pancreas is an organ located behind the stomach that contains two main types of cells. Exocrine cells produce digestive enzymes and secrete them into ducts leading to the small intestine. Endocrine cells are clustered in groups called islets of Langerhans and secrete hormones like insulin and glucagon to regulate blood sugar levels. Pancreatic cancer occurs when pancreatic cells grow out of control and form a tumor, which can invade other organs. It arises most commonly from exocrine cells in a type of cancer called adenocarcinoma.

2. Pancreas – An organ based just behind the stomach
Contain 2 main types of cells-
Exocrine cells- Produce digestive enzymes and secrete into ducts that finally
enter into small intestine
Endocrine cells- Clustered into groups called ISLETS OF LANGERHANS.
These cells secrete hormones like insulin and glucagon and maintain the
blood sugar level.

3. AGENDA
• What is
Pancreatic
cancer (PC)
• Causes of
pancreatic
cancer
• Types of PC
• Symptoms of
PC
• Pathophysiolo
gy
• Diagnosis and
treatment
• Prevention
and screening
• Management
• Current
research going
on in INDIA

5. What is Pancreatic cancer (PC)
Pancreatic cells grow
out of control and
form a mass
Can invade to other
body organs also
highest incidence and
mortality rates are in
developed countries
Occur after age of 70,
its rarely observed at
40
Most common is
pancreatic
adenocarcinoma
Arises deep within the
digestive enzymes
preparing cells

6. • Symptoms of
PC

7. DAMAGE TO DNA - MUTATIONS
How DNA gets damaged;
 Either inherited from parents Or acquired
during age
 Carcinogens in cigarette smoke
 Mutations that during DNA replication (Rare
but possible)
Pancreatic Cancer
Mutations
that may
occur during
DNA
replication
(Rare but
possible)
Either
inherited
from parents
Or acquired
during age
Carcinogens
in cigarette
smoke
CAUSES OF PANCREATIC CANCER

8. • Diagnosis and
treatment
Symptomatic Diagnosis
(Pancreatitis after age 50
along with weight loss)
Computer tomography (CT
Scan), Endoscopic
ultrasound(EUS)
Liver function tests - CA19-9
tumour marker expressed in
PC. Used for known cases
rather than diagnosis
Biopsy by Fine Needle
Aspiration
PC Diagnosis

9. Pancreatic cells- mutations to cells- uncontrolled cell growth and tumor forms
Two types-
• Duct tumors – exocrine tumor or adenocarcinoma
• Endocrine tumors – Develops from islets of Langerhans
Treatmen
t will be
based on
Stage of
the
cancer
Type of
pancrea
tic cell
Locatio
n of the
cell
RadiationSurgery
Treatm
ent
options
Chemother
apy
Targeted
therapy
Combinatio
ns of
treatments
• Diagnosis and
treatment

10. Research on pancreatic cancer treatment
Cancer stem cells (CSC) –
• CSCs are distinct subpopulation of the cells deep
within the tumour
• Are capable of self renewal, and can produce
differentiated progeny
• Pancreatic CSCs shows distinct markers, surface
characteristics and intracellular signalling
Specific cell
markers
present in
pancreatic
CSCs
CD-44 – Cell surface
glycoprotein expressed by
cells of epithelial,
mesenchymal and
haematopoietic protein.
CD-44 +ve cells leave
pancreas early and enter
into systemic circulation
CD-24 – Heavily
glycosylated cell surface
protein, plays role in cell
selection and maturation
during haematopoiesis.
Growth of pancreatic
cancer cells was found to
be dependent on CD-24
signalling.
ESA (EpCAM) – Expressed
on basolateral cell surface
on human epithelia and
generally used as
tumormarker
Reference - Goodwin, M., Abel, E.V., Purohit, V. and
Simeone, D.M., 2018. Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cells.
Pancreatic Cancer, pp.349-368.

11. Research on pancreatic cancer treatment – CSC targeted

12. Thank you so much for selecting my
slides