Early Diagnosis in High Risk Patients | Surgical Management
Pancreatic Cancer Clinic | New Therapies | Endoscopic Therapies | Quality of Life
Molecular Research: Proteomics | Molecular Research: Gene Identificaiton

Advancing the Frontiers of Clinical Care

Our researchers are keeping pace with and, in fact, advancing the frontiers of clinical care. The genes that can cause pancreatic cancer are being sought. This will help further define which family members are affected. When a genetic test to diagnose hereditary pancreatic cancer is discovered, it may also prove useful in the more common non-hereditary types of pancreatic cancer. Epidemiologic studies at the University of Washington and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center have uncovered risk factors, such as smoking and exposure to dry cleaning fluids, which can dramatically influence the cancer risk of patients who have a positive family history. Similar environmental factors may be found in the more common non-familial pancreatic cancers. Exciting basic research and clinical trials are ongoing to develop even better methods of early diagnosis, prevention and treatment.