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Pancreatic Cancer Information and Research
The pancreas is a glandular organ located behind the stomach in the abdomen. It has an elongated, flat shape and is approximately 15-18 cm in length and 60-100g in weight.
The pancreas consists of two components: the endocrine and the exocrine pancreas.
The endocrine pancreas is made up of cells that are organized into functional units called islets of Langerhans. These islet cells secret important hormones such as insulin and glucagon to maintain the amount of sugar (glucose) in the blood.
The exocrine pancreas is composed of acinar cells that secrete digestive enzymes and ductal cells (forming the ductal epithelium) that produce mucin and bicarbonate. The digestive enzymes, mucin, and bicarbonate are released into small pancreatic ducts which join the main pancreatic duct, and empty into the duodenum.
Over 90% of malignant pancreatic cancers are adenocarcinomas that arise from the ductal epithelium of the exocrine pancreas. Information on these web pages pertains to pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
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