Risk factors and possibility of prevention in pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is an uncommon tumor but is characterized by extremely aggressive behaviour, has a high fatality rate with on overall 5 years survival rate under 4%. Beside age, race and genetic factors (germline mutations, genetic polymorphisms), several lifestyle and environmental factors have been reported to contribute to the development of this disease. The etiology of pancreatic cancer remains partial unknowed, in consequency the prevention is difficult to accomplish. There are no entirely effective screening strategies currently available. For high-risk individuals, with a strong family history of pancreatic cancer or genetic syndrome, screening techniques such as magnetic resonance or endoscopic ultrasound guided fine-needle aspiration is the only approach to detect precancerous or early cancerous changes.