Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Pancreatic Cancer pp 3–18Cite as

Epidemiology and Prospects for Prevention of Pancreatic Cancer

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:

Abstract

Pancreatic cancer, although infrequent, has a very poor prognosis, making it currently one of the fourth or fifth most common causes of cancer mortality in developed countries. Its incidence varies greatly across regions, which suggests that lifestyle factors play an important role in its etiology. Because pancreatic cancer is strongly age dependent, increasing population longevity and aging will lead to an increase of the global burden of pancreatic cancer in the coming decades. In fact, pancreatic cancer is anticipated to move from the fourth to the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States by 2020, despite stable age-specific and age-standardized incidence rates. The increase in pancreatic cancer incidence and mortality rates reported in some countries could be largely ascribed to improvement in the diagnosis and ascertainment of the disease, particularly in elderly subjects. The etiology of pancreatic cancer has been extensively studied and has been the subject of numerous meta-analyses and pooled analyses. Using a comprehensive strategy, one can retrieve more than 170 meta-analytical or pooled reports dealing with the association between more than 50 specific risk factors and pancreatic cancer risk. About two-thirds of the major risk factors associated with pancreatic cancer are potentially modifiable, affording a unique opportunity for preventing one of our deadliest cancers: Abstaining from smoking, limiting alcohol intake, adopting a healthy diet, rich in fruits and vegetables, limiting red meat consumption and being physically active in everyday life could reduce pancreas cancer risk by 30 percent.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   849.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD   1,099.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Rishi A, Goggins M, Wood LD, Hruban RH. Pathological and molecular evaluation of pancreatic neoplasms. Semin Oncol. 2015;42:28–39. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.seminoncol.2014.12.004.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Fesinmeyer MD, Austin MA, Li CI, De Roos AJ, Bowen DJ. Differences in survival by histologic type of pancreatic cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomark Prev. 2005;14:1766–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Torre LA, Bray F, Siegel RL, Ferlay J, Lortet-Tieulent J, Jemal A. Global cancer statistics, 2012. CA Cancer J Clin. 2015;65:87–108. https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21262.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Siegel RL, Miller KD, Jemal A. Cancer statistics, 2016. CA Cancer J Clin. 2016;66:7–30. https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21332.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Weir HK, Thompson TD, Soman A, Møller B, Leadbetter S. The past, present, and future of cancer incidence in the United States: 1975 through 2020. Cancer. 2015;121:1827–37. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.29258.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Thun M, Peto R, Boreham J, Lopez AD. Stages of the cigarette epidemic on entering its second century. Tob Control. 2012;21:96–101. https://doi.org/10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2011-050294.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Maisonneuve P, Lowenfels AB. Risk factors for pancreatic cancer: a summary review of meta-analytical studies. Int J Epidemiol. 2015;44:186–98. https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyu240.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Scialpi M, Reginelli A, D’Andrea A, Gravante S, Falcone G, Baccari P, et al. Pancreatic tumors imaging: an update. Int J Surg. 2016;28(Suppl 1):S142–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsu.2015.12.053.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Kupka K. International classification of diseases: ninth revision. WHO Chron. 1978;32:219–25.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Ashley J. The international classification of diseases: the structure and content of the tenth revision. Health Trends. 1990–1991;22:135–7.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Brewster DH, Lang J, Bhatti LA, Thomson CS, Oien KA. Descriptive epidemiology of cancer of unknown primary site in Scotland, 1961–2010. Cancer Epidemiol. 2014;38:227–324. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.canep.2014.03.010.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Urban D, Rao A, Bressel M, Lawrence YR, Mileshkin L. Cancer of unknown primary: a population-based analysis of temporal change and socioeconomic disparities. Br J Cancer. 2013;109:1318–24. https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.2013.386.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Popat K, McQueen K, Feeley TW. The global burden of cancer. Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol. 2013;27:399–408. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpa.2013.10.010.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Sidney S, Quesenberry Jr CP, Jaffe MG, Sorel M, Nguyen-Huynh MN, Kushi LH, et al. Recent trends in cardiovascular mortality in the United States and public health goals. JAMA Cardiol. 2016;1:594–9. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamacardio.2016.1326.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Rahib L, Smith BD, Aizenberg R, Rosenzweig AB, Fleshman JM, Matrisian LM. Projecting cancer incidence and deaths to 2030: the unexpected burden of thyroid, liver, and pancreas cancers in the United States. Cancer Res. 2014;74:2913–21. https://doi.org/10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-14-0155.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Ferlay J, Partensky C, Bray F. More deaths from pancreatic cancer than breast cancer in the EU by 2017. Acta Oncol. 2016;55:1158–60. https://doi.org/10.1080/0284186X.2016.1197419.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Jiao L, Li D. The nature of pancreatic cancer: epidemiology and prospects for prevention of pancreatic cancer. In: Pancreatic cancer. Ed(s) JP Neoptolemos, R Urrutia, JL Abbruzzese, MW Büchler (eds.). Springer 2010 New York.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Stolzenberg-Solomon RZ, Amundadottir LT. Epidemiology and inherited predisposition for sporadic pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am. 2015;29:619–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hoc.2015.04.009.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  19. Solomon S, Das S, Brand R, Whitcomb DC. Inherited pancreatic cancer syndromes. Cancer J. 2012;18:485–91. https://doi.org/10.1097/PPO.0b013e318278c4a6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  20. Risch HA, Lu L, Wang J, Zhang W, Ni Q, Gao YT, et al. ABO blood group and risk of pancreatic cancer: a study in Shanghai and meta-analysis. Am J Epidemiol. 2013;177:1326–37. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kws458.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  21. Iodice S, Gandini S, Maisonneuve P, Lowenfels AB. Tobacco and the risk of pancreatic cancer: a review and meta-analysis. Langenbeck’s Arch Surg. 2008;393:535–45. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00423-007-0266-2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Tramacere I, Scotti L, Jenab M, Bagnardi V, Bellocco R, Rota M, et al. Alcohol drinking and pancreatic cancer risk: a meta-analysis of the dose-risk relation. Int J Cancer. 2010;126:1474–86. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.24936.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Genkinger JM, Spiegelman D, Anderson KE, Bernstein L, van den Brandt PA, Calle EE, et al. A pooled analysis of 14 cohort studies of anthropometric factors and pancreatic cancer risk. Int J Cancer. 2011;129:1708–17. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.25794.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  24. Liao WC, Tu YK, Wu MS, Lin JT, Wang HP, Chien KL. Blood glucose concentration and risk of pancreatic cancer: systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis. BMJ. 2015;349:g7371. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.g7371.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Batabyal P, Vander Hoorn S, Christophi C, Nikfarjam M. Association of diabetes mellitus and pancreatic adenocarcinoma: a meta-analysis of 88 studies. Ann Surg Oncol. 2014;21:2453–62. https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-014-3625-6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Gandini S, Lowenfels AB, Jaffee EM, Armstrong TD, Maisonneuve P. Allergies and the risk of pancreatic cancer: a meta-analysis with review of epidemiology and biological mechanisms. Cancer Epidemiol Biomark Prev. 2005;14:1908–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Gandini S, Puntoni M, Heckman-Stoddard BM, Dunn BK, Ford L, DeCensi A, et al. Metformin and cancer risk and mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis taking into account biases and confounders. Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2014;7:867–85. https://doi.org/10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-13-0424.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Raimondi S, Lowenfels AB, Morselli-Labate AM, Maisonneuve P, Pezzilli R. Pancreatic cancer in chronic pancreatitis; aetiology, incidence, and early detection. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol. 2010;24:349–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpg.2010.02.007.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Schulte A, Pandeya N, Fawcett J, Fritschi L, Risch HA, Webb PM, et al. Association between helicobacter pylori and pancreatic cancer risk: a meta-analysis. Cancer Causes Control. 2015;26:1027–35. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-015-0595-3.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Luo G, Hao NB, Hu CJ, Yong X, Lü MH, Cheng BJ, et al. HBV infection increases the risk of pancreatic cancer: a meta-analysis. Cancer Causes Control. 2013;24:529–37. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-012-0144-2.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Xu JH, Fu JJ, Wang XL, Zhu JY, Ye XH, Chen SD. Hepatitis B or C viral infection and risk of pancreatic cancer: a meta-analysis of observational studies. World J Gastroenterol. 2013;19:4234–41. https://doi.org/10.3748/wjg.v19.i26.4234.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  32. Lin G, Zeng Z, Wang X, Wu Z, Wang J, Wang C, et al. Cholecystectomy and risk of pancreatic cancer: a meta-analysis of observational studies. Cancer Causes Control. 2012;23:59–67. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-011-9856-y.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Paluszkiewicz P, Smolińska K, Dębińska I, Turski WA. Main dietary compounds and pancreatic cancer risk. The quantitative analysis of case-control and cohort studies. Cancer Epidemiol. 2012;36:60–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.canep.2011.05.004.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Larsson SC, Wolk A. Red and processed meat consumption and risk of pancreatic cancer: meta-analysis of prospective studies. Br J Cancer. 2012;106:603–7. https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.2011.585.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  35. Wu QJ, Wu L, Zheng LQ, Xu X, Ji C, Gong TT. Consumption of fruit and vegetables reduces risk of pancreatic cancer: evidence from epidemiological studies. Eur J Cancer Prev. 2016;25:196–205. https://doi.org/10.1097/CEJ.0000000000000171.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Lin HL, An QZ, Wang QZ, Liu CX. Folate intake and pancreatic cancer risk: an overall and dose-response meta-analysis. Public Health. 2013;127:607–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2013.04.008.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Genkinger JM, Li R, Spiegelman D, Anderson KE, Albanes D, Bergkvist L, et al. Coffee, tea, and sugar-sweetened carbonated soft drink intake and pancreatic cancer risk: a pooled analysis of 14 cohort studies. Cancer Epidemiol Biomark Prev. 2012;21:305–18. https://doi.org/10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-11-0945-T.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Shen QW, Yao QY. Total fat consumption and pancreatic cancer risk: a meta-analysis of epidemiologic studies. Eur J Cancer Prev. 2015;24:278–85. https://doi.org/10.1097/CEJ.0000000000000073.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Genkinger JM, Wang M, Li R, Albanes D, Anderson KE, Bernstein L, et al. Dairy products and pancreatic cancer risk: a pooled analysis of 14 cohort studies. Ann Oncol. 2014;25:1106–15. https://doi.org/10.1093/annonc/mdu019.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  40. Pelucchi C, Bosetti C, Galeone C, La Vecchia C. Dietary acrylamide and cancer risk: an updated meta-analysis. Int J Cancer. 2015;136:2912–22. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.29339.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Qin B, Xun P, He K. Fish or long-chain (n-3) PUFA intake is not associated with pancreatic cancer risk in a meta-analysis and systematic review. J Nutr. 2012;142:1067–73. https://doi.org/10.3945/jn.111.156711.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  42. Choi Y, Giovannucci E, Lee JE. Glycaemic index and glycaemic load in relation to risk of diabetes-related cancers: a meta-analysis. Br J Nutr. 2012;108:1934–47. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114512003984.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Burkey MD, Feirman S, Wang H, Choudhury SR, Grover S, Johnston FM. The association between smokeless tobacco use and pancreatic adenocarcinoma: a systematic review. Cancer Epidemiol. 2014;38:647–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.canep.2014.08.010.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  44. Zhou J, Wellenius GA, Michaud DS. Environmental tobacco smoke and the risk of pancreatic cancer among non-smokers: a meta-analysis. Occup Environ Med. 2012;69:853–7. https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2012-100844.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Danaei G, Vander Hoorn S, Lopez AD, Murray CJ, Ezzati M. Comparative risk assessment collaborating group (Cancers). Causes of cancer in the world: comparative risk assessment of nine behavioural and environmental risk factors. Lancet. 2005;366:1784–93.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. International Agency for Research on Cancer, Académie des Sciences-Institut de France, Académie de Médecine, Fédération Nationale des Centres de Lutte contre le Cancer. Attributable causes of cancer in France in the year 2000, IARC working group reports, vol. 3. Lyon: IARC Press; 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  47. Laffoy M, McCarthy T, Mullen L, Byrne D, Martin J. Cancer incidence and mortality due to alcohol: an analysis of 10-year data. Ir Med J. 2013;106:294–7.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Calle EE, Kaaks R. Overweight, obesity and cancer: epidemiological evidence and proposed mechanisms. Nat Rev Cancer. 2004;4:579–91.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Parkin DM, Boyd L, Walker LC. 16. The fraction of cancer attributable to lifestyle and environmental factors in the UK in 2010. Br J Cancer. 2011;105(Suppl 2):S77–81. https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.2011.489.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  50. Schüz J, Espina C, Villain P, Herrero R, Leon ME, Minozzi S, et al. Working groups of scientific experts. European code against cancer 4th Edition: 12 ways to reduce your cancer risk. Cancer Epidemiol. 2015;39(Suppl 1):S1–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.canep.2015.05.009.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Jiao L, Mitrou PN, Reedy J, Graubard BI, Hollenbeck AR, Schatzkin A, et al. A combined healthy lifestyle score and risk of pancreatic cancer in a large cohort study. Arch Intern Med. 2009;169:764–70. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2009.46.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy

    Patrick Maisonneuve

  2. Department of Surgery and Department of Community and Preventive Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA

    Albert Lowenfels

Authors
  1. Patrick Maisonneuve
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Albert Lowenfels
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Patrick Maisonneuve .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany

    John P. Neoptolemos

  2. Division of Research Department of Surgery and Genomic Sciences and Precision Medicine Center (GSPMC), Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

    Raul Urrutia

  3. Division of Medical Oncology, Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA

    James L. Abbruzzese

  4. Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany

    Markus W. Büchler

Section Editor information

  1. Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, 55905, Rochester, MN, USA

    Raul A. Urrutia

  2. Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 110, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany

    Markus W. Büchler

  3. Division of Surgery and Oncology, University of Liverpool, Daulby Street, Liverpool, UK

    John Neoptolemos

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Maisonneuve, P., Lowenfels, A. (2018). Epidemiology and Prospects for Prevention of Pancreatic Cancer. In: Neoptolemos, J., Urrutia, R., Abbruzzese, J., Büchler, M. (eds) Pancreatic Cancer. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7193-0_73

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation