Pancreatic cancer is a disease in which cancerous cells are found within the tissues of the pancreas. The pancreas is a pear-shaped gland that lies behind the stomach, surrounded by other digestive organs, such as the liver, gallbladder, and small intestine. It has two main functions, to produce digestive juices that help break down food, and to produce hormones (like insulin) that control how the body stores and uses the food.

The part of the pancreas that produces the digestive juices is called the exocrine pancreas, and almost 95% of pancreatic cancers occur in the tissues of the exocrine pancreas.

Although the exact cause for pancreatic cancer remains unknown, several risk factors, such as smoking and diets rich in red meat and fat, have been shown to increase the susceptibility to this particular cancer. It has been observed that a third of pancreatic cancer cases occur among...