Pancreatic Cancer

What is pancreatic cancer?

The pancreas is an organ located in the abdomen which helps digest food and regulate blood sugar. It is surrounded by other organs including the small intestine, liver and spleen. The pancreas is divided into four parts – the head, neck, body and tail.

Pancreatic cancers begin in the tissues of the pancreas, and are categorised according to

• where they occur in the pancreas
• the type of cell that the cancer started

The pancreas is made up of two types of glands.

One type of gland tissue produces digestive enzymes that assist in the digestion of food. These glands drain into ducts, which in turn drain into the small intestine. It is the cells of these ducts which can turn into cancer. This is the most common form of pancreatic cancer known as pancreatic exocrine cancers, which accounts for 95% of all pancreatic cancers. About 95% of these are adenocarcinomas.

Another type of gland tissue produces several important hormones such as insulin. Cancers of the glands in the pancreas are known as neuroendocrine pancreatic cancers and are uncommon, accounting for about 1% of all pancreatic cancers.

What are the different types of pancreatic cancer?

There are two main types of pancreatic cancer:

1. Exocrine pancreatic cancer: This is the most common type, accounting for about 95% of cases. It starts in the exocrine cells responsible for producing enzymes that aid digestion. The most common form of this cancer is adenocarcinoma.
    
   
2. Endocrine pancreatic cancer: Also known as pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (PNETs), this type is rarer and begins in the endocrine cells, which produce hormones like insulin. Examples include insulinomas and gastrinomas.
   

How common is pancreatic cancer?

In Singapore, pancreatic cancer is the 10th most common cancer in males. It is generally aggressive and ranks as the 4th most common cause of cancer death in males and females.