Polish Journal of Public Health

Review Article, Pol J Public Health, Vol. 134 (2024): 89-93

Marcin Cholewa¹ , Julia Wójcik¹ , Maciej Kuca¹ , Karolina Jaglarz² ,
Maksymilian Janeczek¹ , Karolina Kinga Kantor¹ , Julia Plewniok¹,
Wiktoria Maria Szymańska¹ , Kacper Wojciech Pamuła¹ , Maria Partyka¹

¹ Faculty of Medical Sciences, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland

² College of Medical Sciences, University of Rzeszów, Poland

 10.12923/2083-4829/2024-0019

© 2024 Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonComercial-No Derivs licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/

Abstract

Introduction. Pancreatic cancer is one of the most dangerous carcinomas of the digestive tract, with a very poor prognosis for patients. Annually, more than three and a half thousand people in Poland are diagnosed with this tumor.

Aim. The aim of the work was to assess and compile existing knowledge about pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Materials and methods. Data for the paper was gathered with the usage of Google Scholar. Moreover, articles from sources like PubMed or National Institutes of Health were used. Materials were published between 2015 and 2024.

Results. Tumor morbidity is still increasing, the biggest group of patients are people who are more than 55 years old. Many modifiable and nonmodifiable factors play a role in the pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer. Lifestyle, stimulants, BMI or physical activity can be included into the first group. Nonmodifiable factors are sex, age, race, genetic predisposition or blood group. Typical symptoms of this tumor are loss of the body weight, fatigue, nausea, jaundice and abdominal pain. Clinicians use the following diagnostic methods: CT, MRI, ERCP, MRCP or USG. Only the radical chirurgical treatment gives a hope for total recovery, additionally chemotherapy can be admitted. Chemotherapy schemes are FOLFIRINOX or monotherapy with gemcitabine.

Conclusions. Pancreatic cancer is still a challenge for clinicians, as its treatment is limited by poor effectiveness of possible ways of treatment. The majority of tumors are diagnosed at the advanced stage, when full patient recovery is not possible. New ways of treatment such as immunotherapy, monoclonal antibodies or gene therapy are a ray of hope.

Keywords: pancreatic cancer, treatment of pancreatic cancer, epidemiology, diagnostic methods.