Hereditary Pancreatic Cancer

Abstract

Pancreatic cancer is estimated to surpass breast cancer to become the third leading cause of cancer-related death in the USA in 2016. The 5-year overall survival is 7%, and most individuals are diagnosed with advanced disease. Thus, there is a need to improve the early detection of pancreatic cancer in order to detect and improve survival in the same way that mammograms and colonoscopies have improved survival for individuals with breast and colorectal cancer. This chapter discusses the genetics of hereditary pancreatic cancer, the current available screening options, and the use of biomarkers for early detection of pancreatic cancer.