Pancreatic cancer survival improving

More patients with pancreatic cancer are surviving for 12 months after diagnosis, an Australian study finds, but five-year survival rates remain low. One-year survival for patients with pancreatic cancer in Australia increased from 14.3% in 1977-88 to 23.9% in 2001-06, an analysis of SA registry data found. Longer-term survival rates have remained stable, however, and were 3.6% at five years, 3.1% at 10 years and 3% at 15 years, the study found. Age at diagnosis, socioeconomic status and residential address all affected survival. Improvements in diagnostic techniques, advances in systemic chemotherapy for advanced disease, and radiotherapy have resulted in higher one-year survival rates, the study authors said, but the gains were transitory with five- year survival rates still dismally low. The authors said gains in long-term survival might occur in the future as the uptake of systemic therapy increased and became longer standing. “Further research into screening techniques and improved community and professional education may allow earlier diagnosis and, with this, improvements in long-term survival,” the authors wrote. The annual incidence rate for pancreatic cancer in males was 14% lower in 1983-2006 compared with 1977-82, but had remained stable for more than 20 years. “This may indicate that the benefits to be gained from declines in tobacco smoking have largely been obtained or that they are being offset by reverse trends in obesity, diabetes and potentially other risk factors,” the authors said. However, the incidence of pancreatic cancer in females was 10% higher in 1989-2006 compared with 1977-88, although there was little change throughout the latter period. “This could mean that the upward pressures on incidence of historic increases in smoking prevalence are abating,” the authors said. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2009; 10:369-74....