Pancreatic Cancer Action Network

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most challenging cancers to treat: © vitanovski - stock.adobe.com.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most challenging cancers to treat, often requiring highly complex surgical procedures and advanced molecular insights to guide therapy. From groundbreaking surgical innovations to targeted genetic research, the landscape of pancreatic cancer treatment is shifting toward more personalized, and more hopeful approaches.

One such advancement is the robotic Whipple, a high-tech way to perform one of the most intricate operations in surgical oncology. Paired with an increasing understanding of genetic mutations like KRAS, which play a critical role in pancreatic cancer, these developments are transforming how patients are diagnosed, treated, and supported.

While these advancements are still emerging, they offer a powerful sense of progress and possibility. Access to robotic surgery and precision medicine may still be limited to certain centers and patient populations, but awareness and advocacy can help expand availability. Patients and caregivers equipped with the right information are empowered to ask critical questions, seek out specialists, and explore all available options, including clinical trials and biomarker testing—to make informed decisions about care.

 by PanCAN’s Chief Scientific and Medical Officer Anna Berkenblit, MD, MMSc, she explores the intersection of surgical innovation and molecular medicine, offering a glimpse into the promising future of pancreatic cancer care.

Articles

Pancreatic cancer treatment is evolving with advancements in surgical techniques and molecular insights, leading to more personalized approaches. The robotic Whipple procedure exemplifies surgical innovation, while understanding genetic mutations like KRAS enhances targeted therapies. Although these advancements are not yet universally accessible, they signify progress and potential in pancreatic cancer care. Increased awareness and advocacy are crucial for expanding access to these innovations. Patients and caregivers, informed about options such as clinical trials and biomarker testing, can make empowered decisions regarding their treatment and care.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most challenging cancers to treat.

Advances in surgical techniques and targeted therapies for Pancreatic Cancer

This month’s Research Spotlight highlights significant advancements in pancreatic cancer research and patient support. © - stock.adobe.com

This month’s Research Spotlight highlights significant advancements in pancreatic cancer research and patient support. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has released new patient-facing guidelines on genetic testing for hereditary cancers, including pancreatic cancer. These guidelines provide essential information on genetic risks, testing options, and early detection strategies, helping patients and their families make informed healthcare decisions. PanCAN strongly encourages genetic and tumor biomarker testing for all pancreatic cancer patients to guide personalized treatment and identify potential risks for family members.

PanCAN’s Early Detection Initiative (EDI) has successfully enrolled over 8,800 participants to study the link between new-onset diabetes and pancreatic cancer. The goal of this initiative is to develop a screening method for high-risk individuals that detects pancreatic cancer early when it is still surgically treatable. As data from the study continues to be analyzed over the coming years, researchers are hopeful that this initiative will lead to the implementation of a new screening strategy that improves early detection and patient outcomes.

Additionally, pancreatic cancer disproportionately affects Black Americans, who have higher incidence and mortality rates than other racial and ethnic groups. The American Cancer Society’s latest report attributes these disparities to structural racism and inequitable access to healthcare. Addressing these disparities requires continued advocacy and research funding. PanCAN leaders recently visited Capitol Hill to urge federal investment in pancreatic cancer research, emphasizing the importance of sustained funding for scientific progress and improved patient outcomes. PanCAN encourages supporters to engage in advocacy efforts to ensure that funding for life-saving research remains a national priority.

Read more from PanCAN’s Chief Scientific & Medical Officer Dr. Anna Berkenblit: 

https://pancan.org/news/research-spotlight-2/

Recent advancements in pancreatic cancer research emphasize the importance of genetic testing and early detection. The NCCN has introduced guidelines for hereditary cancer genetic testing, aiding patients in making informed decisions. PanCAN advocates for genetic and tumor biomarker testing to personalize treatment and assess familial risks. The Early Detection Initiative aims to link new-onset diabetes with pancreatic cancer for early screening. Disparities in pancreatic cancer incidence among Black Americans highlight the need for advocacy and research funding to address structural racism and healthcare access issues.

This month’s Research Spotlight highlights significant advancements in pancreatic cancer research and patient support. 

Insights into the Latest Trends in Pancreatic Cancer

A recent report was released revealing a sobering trend for pancreatic cancer.

The recent American Cancer Society’s Cancer Statistics, 2025 report was released revealing a sobering trend for pancreatic cancer. Despite increases over the past three years, the five-year relative survival rate for pancreatic cancer remains flat at 13%, and just 8% for people diagnosed with the most common form of pancreatic cancer, pancreatic adenocarcinoma. 

According to the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Statistics, 2025, report, an estimated 67,440 Americans are expected to be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2025, and an estimated 51,980 are predicted to die from the disease this year.While overall cancer mortality is decreasing, the annual report highlights that pancreatic cancer remains the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Evidence suggests that it is on track to become the second-leading cause in the coming years. The five-year relative survival for Black people with pancreatic cancer is lower at 11%, consistent with the disparities seen for cancer overall.

As one of the five most lethal cancers, pancreatic cancer, unlike lung, breast, prostate and colorectal cancer, is the only one that does not have a standard screening strategy. The lack of progress highlights the need for focused research efforts to narrow the gap between outcomes from pancreatic cancer and other major cancer types. 

There is good news. Overall, cancer mortality rates are decreasing. Although pancreatic cancer continues to lag behind, successes in other cancers can provide a roadmap and highlight focus areas that may have a positive impact on outcomes for patients with pancreatic cancer in the years to come.

“While we’ve seen incremental progress in the treatment of pancreatic cancer, it’s sobering to know that pancreatic cancer survival has not increased and remains the only major cancer with a five-year survival rate below 20%,” said Anna Berkenblit, M.D., MMSc, Chief Scientific and Medical Officer at PanCAN. “The minimal improvement in survival in recent years is in part related to more people being diagnosed with incidentally detected, well differentiated neuroendocrine tumors, which are less aggressive than pancreatic adenocarcinomas. This highlights the need for screening and surveillance strategies for pancreatic adenocarcinoma as well as the need for better therapies, which will require more research funding.”

The bad news is that there continues to be a lack of research funding for an early detection strategy and better treatments for patients.

Dr. Berkenblit added, “I am hopeful that with the approval of new drugs for the treatment of diabetes and obesity, both of which are risk factors for pancreatic cancer, and the development of targeted therapies like RAS inhibitors for pancreatic cancer, we will begin to see improved outcomes in the years ahead.” 

Learn more about how you can help by reading the article: 

A Call to Action: Progress for Pancreatic Cancer Depends on You.

Pancreatic cancer remains a significant challenge, with a stagnant five-year relative survival rate of 13%, and only 8% for pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The American Cancer Society's 2025 report estimates 67,440 new cases and 51,980 deaths in 2025, highlighting its status as the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. Despite overall cancer mortality declining, pancreatic cancer lacks a standard screening strategy, underscoring the need for focused research. Promising developments in diabetes and obesity treatments, and targeted therapies like RAS inhibitors, offer hope for future improvements.

The recent American Cancer Society’s Cancer Statistics, 2025 report was released revealing a sobering trend for pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic Cancer Diagnoses and Mortality Rates Rise 

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) announced today the launch of Precision PromiseSM, the first of its kind adaptive clinical trial platform for pancreatic cancer patients. PanCAN’s Precision Promise was envisioned with a nationwide team of leading clinicians, researchers, and diagnostic and drug developers to test novel treatment options for pancreatic cancer patients quicker and cheaper and get them to patients faster, transforming the way clinical research is done.

Every pancreatic cancer treatment available today was approved through a clinical trial; however, standard trials are slow, costly, and have only had a 10 percent success rate over the last 20 years. PanCAN’s novel clinical trial platform is designed to enable the development of new treatments more efficiently than standard pancreatic cancer trials by testing multiple experimental therapies at the same time. Through Precision Promise, metastatic pancreatic cancer patients may have the opportunity to receive both first- and second- line treatment options in one clinical trial. As a late-stage platform, the potential for new drug approvals by the FDA is built into the model, which can accelerate the drug development process by up to two years. The statistical design of Precision Promise was led by world-renowned statistician Dr. Donald Berry (Berry Consultants), who designed the I-SPY breast cancer trials and has over 400 peer-reviewed publications.

Pancreatic cancer is currently the third leading cause of cancer-related death in the U.S., with an overall five- year survival rate of just 10 percent. Roughly 63 percent of patients die within the first year of a pancreatic cancer diagnosis, underscoring the urgent need for new and more effective treatment options.

“Pancreatic cancer patients don’t have time to wait for new treatments to be approved through the standard clinical trial model,” said Julie Fleshman, JD, MBA, PanCAN’s president and CEO. “As the first pancreatic cancer nonprofit organization to develop, sponsor, and lead an adaptive clinical trial platform, we are disrupting the current clinical trial system in order to accelerate progress for patients fighting this disease.”

Eligible pancreatic cancer patients will be able to enroll in PanCAN’s Precision Promise at one of 15 Clinical Trial Consortium sites nationwide. Sites were selected through a competitive, peer-review process and include:

Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (Boston, Mass.)

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center/Seattle Cancer Care Alliance/University of Washington (Seattle, Wash.)

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (New York City, N.Y.)

Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health (San Diego, Calif.)

Perelman School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, Pa.)

Perlmutter Cancer Center/NYU Langone Health (New York City, N.Y.)

The University of Chicago (Chicago, Ill.)

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, Texas)

UC San Francisco Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center (San Francisco, Calif.)

University of Florida Health – Cancer Center (Gainesville, Fla.)

Virginia Mason Medical Center (Seattle, Wash.)

Washington University School of Medicine (St. Louis, Mo.)

Weill Cornell Medicine (New York City, N.Y.)

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (Los Angeles, Calif.)

A full list of institutions that are open and actively enrolling patients can be found at

In partnership with Tempus, a leader in artificial intelligence and precision medicine, every patient enrolled in PanCAN’s Precision Promise trial will undergo broad-panel genomic testing. Precision promise will also support follow-up biopsies to learn how their tumor is responding to treatment. Through the adaptive nature of PanCAN’s Precision Promise, data will be constantly monitored, and treatment arms can be discontinued if results do not look promising.

“By designing a more patient-centric trial platform, we are able to test promising new therapies more quickly and learn from fewer patients if a treatment is working,” said Diane Simeone, MD, chair of the PanCAN Precision Promise Steering Committee and Precision Promise Principal Investigator at Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone Health. “The patients that enroll will also receive best-in-class supportive care alongside treatment with biomarker testing to better understand why treatments work in some patients but not in others. This approach should serve as a model for the next generation of trials – not only for pancreatic cancer, but for all diseases.”

PanCAN is the trusted and unbiased leader that is bringing together key stakeholders – investigators, clinicians, industry, pancreatic cancer thought-leaders and regulatory authorities – to make Precision Promise possible.

“Through groundbreaking initiatives like Precision Promise, PanCAN is committing to taking bold action in the fight against pancreatic cancer,” said Hilarie Koplow-McAdams, Venture Partner at New Enterprise Associates and chair of PanCAN’s Board of Directors, who lost her father to pancreatic cancer in 2012. “Anyone who has been personally touched by this disease understands the urgency needed to develop new treatment options. With PanCAN taking the initiative to drive innovation in this space, we can make meaningful progress.”

PanCAN is grateful to its generous donors as well as its Scientific & Medical Affairs Industry Members who help make research initiatives like Precision Promise possible. Industry members include: AbbVie, AstraZeneca, IPSEN, Pfizer, Tempus, TriSalus Life Sciences, and Tyme Technologies, Inc.

To learn more about Precison Promise and PanCAN’s commitment to research, visit pancan.org. Pancreatic cancer patients and caregivers can receive personalized support and resources, and more information about Precision Promise, through PanCAN’s Patient Services or by calling 877-2-PANCAN.

For the latest organization updates, follow the PanCAN on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

About the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) is dedicated to fighting the world’s toughest cancer. In our urgent mission to save lives, we attack pancreatic cancer on all fronts: research, clinical initiatives, patient services, and advocacy. Our effort is amplified by a nationwide network of grassroots support. We are determined to improve outcomes for today’s patients and those diagnosed in the future.

Adaptive Clinical Trial Design Is More Cost Effective, Patient-Centric and Allows for Faster Learning Than Standard Trials
