As with other forms of cancer, pancreatic cancer results from alterations (mutations) in the DNA of certain pancreatic cells. These genetic mutations instruct the cells to multiply wildly and form malignant tumors. Is pancreatic cancer hereditary? Researchers estimate that about 10 percent of the time, the answer is yes. Gene mutations that raise susceptibility to the disease are passed down from parent to child. A 2018 study identified six genes with an association with pancreatic cancer. (1) In the study, the genes were identified at a higher rate in people with a family history of the disease. Pancreatic cancer can also be the result of genetic mutations that occur during one’s lifetime, for a variety of reasons related to environmental exposures or lifestyle choices, such as cigarette smoking. For many patients, the pancreatic cancer cause is unknown. Researchers believe the trigger for the disease may be a random event that occurs spontaneously within cells. (2) RELATED: Staging Pancreatic Cancer: How Is It Done and What Does It Mean?
What Raises Pancreatic Cancer Risk?
In the general population, a person with an average chance of developing pancreatic cancer. But there are a number of factors that can raise the odds:
Age The older you are, the greater your possibility of developing pancreatic cancer. Around 90 percent of people who get the disease are older than 55, while 70 percent are older than 65. But younger people can get pancreatic cancer, too.Gender Men are more likely to develop pancreatic cancer than women. In 2022, an estimated 35,000 men and 27,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with the disease. (3)Race and Ethnicity Black people are at higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer than Asian, Hispanic, or white people. Men and women of Ashkenazi Jewish background are also more vulnerable. This is possibly due to a mutation in a gene (BRCA2) also implicated in breast, ovarian, and prostate cancer, which is found in about 1 percent of people with this heritage.Smoking Smokers have double the pancreatic cancer risk of nonsmokers; about 20 to 30 percent of pancreatic cancers are associated with cigarette smoking. Cigars, pipes, and smokeless tobacco products may also be problematic.Obesity and Diet Obese people are about 20 percent more likely to develop pancreatic cancer. Men and women who are overweight (but not obese) are at higher risk as well, and may be especially so if they carry the extra pounds around their waists. While more research is needed on the link between pancreatic cancer and diet, some studies have connected the disease to high consumption of fatty foods or a diet high in red or processed meats (such as sausage) and low in fruits and vegetables.Diabetes There is a significant amount of evidence linking diabetes with pancreatic cancer, especially for people who have the condition for many years. The sudden onset of diabetes may also be a symptom of pancreatic cancer.Family History Pancreatic cancer can run in families, most likely because of shared genetic mutations. This condition, called familial pancreatic cancer (FPC), accounts for about 10 percent of all cases. Families are considered to have FPC if there are two or more first-degree relatives (parent, child, sibling) who have been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, or if there are three or more close relatives from the same side of the family with a pancreatic-cancer diagnosis. (4)Chronic Pancreatitis This painful inflammation of the pancreas, which can be brought on by alcohol abuse, has been linked to pancreatic cancer.Rare Inherited Conditions These include hereditary pancreatitis, Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, familial malignant melanoma and pancreatic cancer, hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome, and Lynch syndrome.Workplace Chemicals The American Cancer Society singles out chemicals related to dry cleaning and metal working as particularly hazardous.Bacteria A common bacterium called Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) causes inflammation and ulcers in the stomach and can also, to a lesser extent, raise pancreatic-cancer risk.Hepatitis B Infection There is some evidence linking the virus to pancreatic cancer, although more research is needed.Cirrhosis This condition, which is often caused by alcohol abuse, develops when damage to liver cells leads to scar tissue. (5)
Can You Prevent Pancreatic Cancer?
Researchers are working to develop reliable detection tests that can catch pancreatic cancer at its earliest stages, when it is most treatable. The hope is to identify indicators of the disease — also known as biomarkers — that would be detectable through a blood test or analysis of another substance in the body. Until these tests become available, people who are at high risk — because of mutations passed down through families, say, or rare genetic illnesses — may be able to take part in investigative screening programs that use a variety of imaging methods, such as endoscopic ultrasound and CT scans. (6) But while risk factors like family history can’t be changed, there are a number of things that anyone can do to minimize their chances of developing pancreatic cancer:
Don’t smoke. This is the most significant thing you can do to lower your pancreatic cancer risk.Maintain a healthy weight. To help achieve this goal, the American Cancer Society recommends following a healthy diet that emphasizes plant foods and that includes at least 2 ½ cups of fruits and vegetables a day. The guidelines on cancer prevention also recommend choosing whole-grain breads, pastas, and cereals instead of refined grains, and opting for fish, poultry, or beans rather than processed meat and red meat.Limit alcohol. Some (but not all) studies have found an association between heavy alcohol consumption and pancreatic cancer.Avoid hazardous workplace chemicals. Minimize your exposure to chemicals that are known or suspected to be carcinogenic. (7)
