Epidemiology of Pancreatic Cancer

Cancer of the pancreas remains a relatively uncommon condition, with nearly equal
numbers of new cases and deaths reported annually. It accounts for 2.8% of new cancer cases
in the United States and approximately 7% of cancer deaths worldwide(1). The estimated
number of new pancreatic cancer cases was 277.000 worldwide. These were sobering statistics,
suggesting that the mortality rate is 96% of the incidence rate. Comparable statistics for colon
cancer were 1.233.000 new cases and 608.000 deaths for a mortality of 49%; breast cancer,
with 1.383.000 new cases and 458.000 deaths for a mortality rate of 33%, and prostate cancer,
with 913.000 new cases and 258.000 deaths for a mortality rate of 28%(2). The global annual
incidence rate of pancreatic cancer is approximately 8/100,000 persons(3).

Population distributions are mostly reported from the United States, Europe, and Japan,
but data are emerging from other regions(3). The American Cancer Society estimates that
44.000 new cases of PC will be detected in the United States in 2012, making PC the 10th most
common incident cancer among men and 11th most common among women. Pancreatic cancer
is currently the fourth leading cause of cancer death in men (after lung, colorectal, and prostate
cancers) and in women (after lung, breast, and colorectal cancers). In all cancer registries,
pancreas cancer is somewhat more common in males than in females: on a worldwide basis,
there are approximately 120.000 yearly male deaths compared to 107.000 female deaths(1).

Age is a key risk factor for pancreatic cancer, with the median age at diagnosis of
pancreatic cancer at 72 years. Less than 10% of patients develop pancreatic cancer before the
age of 50(4). Advancing age is the main risk factor for developing PC as is true for most
cancers. Most PC cases are discovered between the ages of 40 and 80 years. Data from the
SEER registries indicate that the median age of PC diagnosis is 71 years, with less than 3% of
cases diagnosed before age 44 and 54% of cases found between 65 and 84 years of age.26 In
0.1% of cases found in individuals 20 years of age or younger, family history and genetic
factors were often risk factors(1).

The risk of pancreatitis is 2- to 3-fold higher among the black population than the white
population,2,24 and rates of pancreatic cancer are considerably higher in the black population
than in any other racial group(3). High rates of pancreatic cancer have also been detected in
Maori population compared to corresponding white populations(4). The reasons for the higher
incidence can be largely explained by the increased prevalence of known risk factors in this
population, including cigarette smoking, BMI, diabetes, and moderate to heavy alcohol
consumption(2).
References
1. Yeo TP, Lowenfels AB, Facs Þ. Demographics and Epidemiology of Pancreatic Cancer.
2012;18(6):477–84.
2. Pandol S, Gukovskaya A, Edderkaoui M, Edderkoui M, Dawson D, Eibl G, et al.
Epidemiology, risk factors, and the promotion of pancreatic cancer: role of the stellate
cell. J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2012;27 Suppl 2:127–34.
3. Yadav D, Lowenfels AB. The epidemiology of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.
Gastroenterology. Elsevier Inc.; 2013;144(6):1252–61.
4. Lowenfels AB, Maisonneuve P. Epidemiology and risk factors for pancreatic cancer.
Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol. 2006;20(2):197–209.