Updated 1 November 2005

Pancreatic cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer death in Canada, with 3,400 new cases diagnosed per year and 3,300 deaths.¹

Despite the high mortality rate, very little is understood about the etiology of cancer of the pancreas. Tobacco smoking is thought to contribute to the development of 20% to 30% of pancreas cancers.²

Demographic risk factors include: age (most cases occur between the ages of 60 and 80 years), Black race, low socioeconomic status, and Ashkenazi Jewish heritage (as related to certain germline mutations).² Diabetes mellitus is both a risk factor for and may be caused by pancreatic cancer.³ Other risk factors include: obesity, chronic pancreatitis, cirrhosis, and prior cholecystectomy.^{2 3}

Alcohol intake, acute pancreatitis and coffee drinking have been repeatedly studied but no clear link has been established. An estimated 10% to 20% of cases of pancreas cancer are thought to be hereditary.⁴ Genetic mutations occur in both an inherited and acquired fashion. The oncogene K-ras is often activated in combination with inactivation of tumour suppressor genes (e.g. p53, DPC4, p16, BRCA2).⁵