Pancreatic Cancer and the Promise of Personalized Medicine

Abstract

Pancreatic cancer, among which pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most common type, has a nearly identical incidence to mortality rate. Difficulties in early detection, diagnosis, and treatment are primarily responsible, all of which are further complicated by the molecular biology and etiology of the disease. To succeed in improving treatment options and survival rates, a deeper understanding of pancreatic cancer pathogenesis, as well as the pathogenesis of individual patients, is crucial. This is where personalized medicine comes into play, as it allows for a more specific diagnosis and choice of treatment that utilizes the genetic and cellular makeup of an individual’s cancer cells to provide a basis for the diagnosis and treatment. Personalized medicine is a rapidly growing field that shows promise in overcoming challenges in treating pancreatic cancer, all of which are explored in this article.