Pancreatic Cancer

Revolutionary Solutions for Pancreatic Cancer: Transforming the Disease Landscape

Pancreatic cancer cases are escalating. Among all the other types of cancer, the most frequently reported type is pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer is a malignant digestive tumor reported with high clinical morbidity and mortality with major challenges for treatment. While pancreatic cancer is a huge health concern, it has also pushed the healthcare sector to investigate novel therapies, offering financial potential. As research and technological breakthroughs combine, various revenue-generating options have emerged.

In the United States, pancreatic cancer accounts for approximately 3% of all cancer cases but contributes to about 7% of all cancer-related deaths, as per the American Cancer Society. It is the eighth most prevalent disease in women and the tenth most common cancer in males. Effective screening methods continue to struggle with the disease, which in most instances manifests at an intractable or incurable stage. The major clinical symptoms reported during the diagnosis of pancreatic disease are abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting, back pain, and weight loss.

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Pancreatic cancer is caused by mutations in the cell’s DNA. The cell abnormality allows the pancreas to malfunction and creates an unusually large quantity of pancreatic enzymes. Most pancreatic cancers start in the cells lining the pancreatic ducts. These mutations are known as Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma or Pancreatic Exocrine Cancer. These cancers are known as Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors and islet cell Tumors.

Based on the Cancer Statistics 2021, the American Cancer Society estimated 60430 new cases and 48220 deaths in the United States for pancreatic cancer, placing third behind lung and bronchus cancer and colorectal cancer. The below graph represents the number of deaths in the US in 2022.

The major reported types of pancreatic tumors are as follows,

1. Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma:

Adenocarcinoma accounts for approximately 95% of exocrine pancreatic cancers. Usually, the pancreatic ducts are where these tumors start. Acinar cell carcinoma is the name given to it when it develops less frequently from the cells that make pancreatic enzymes.

2. Less Common Types of Exocrine Cancer: 

Exocrine cancer arises from several types of precancerous lesions. Exocrine cancer develops from the exocrine cells found in the pancreatic exocrine glands and ducts. Less common types of exocrine cancer comprise a range of challenging variants, such as aden squamous carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas, signet ring cell carcinomas, undifferentiated carcinomas, and undifferentiated carcinomas with giant cells.

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Diagnostic Analysis:

Pancreatic cancer is a Malignant Neoplasm typically it is asymptomatic in its early stages, which often leads to late diagnosis & poor prognosis. Diagnostic methods involve imaging tests like CT scans & MRI, as well as biopsy to confirm malignancy. Early detection remains crucial for the potentially curative treatments, as advanced stages of pancreatic cancer are often associated with limited treatment options & and reduced survival rates.

1. Imaging tests:

Imaging methods are used to study the history of sickness or dysfunction in an individual's internal organs.

• Positron Emission Tomography (PET):

PET is a non-invasive imaging technique that detects pancreatic cancer. PET is using radioactive tracer agents. The tracers settle in the pancreas & and determine the functioning of the tissue. The early symptoms are also diagnosed by PET. Discovery PET & BIOGRAPH PET are the latest diagnostic products developed by top market players in the diagnostic market portfolio. BIOGRAPH PET is manufactured by Siemens Healthineers, a prominent company specializing in medical imaging and diagnostics. It competes with GE Healthcare’s Discovery PET system in the market.

• Computerized Tomography (CT):

Computer Tomography is capable of diagnosing the proliferation of pancreatic cancer. Leading market participants have made advanced versions of Revolution CT and SOMATOM Definition AS, two CT machines, to diagnose cancer cells more efficiently.

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI):

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures the energy of organs and structures inside the body using radio waves and magnets. For imaging of the pancreas, contrast agents such as Magenweir are employed. The contrast agent must be administered through the cubital vein prior to scanning. Image data from the Signa scanner reveals a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

• Color Ultrasound Examination:

An Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) creates images of your pancreas from inside your abdomen using ultrasound equipment. To obtain the images, the instrument travels down the throat and into the gastrointestinal tract via a thin, flexible tube (an endoscope). The color ultrasound technique creates images of the pancreas by using sound waves.

The Toshiba Aplio 500, with a probe frequency of 3.5 MHz, detects pancreatic cancer. The location, size, form, contour, and shape of the pancreatic duct are used to diagnose the tumor.

2. Blood Test:

The blood test is capable of diagnosing pancreatic cancer by the Carbohydrate Antigen test (CA)-19. The CA 19-9 blood test analyses the protein CA 19-9. Pancreatic cancer is detected when the CA 19-9 level is elevated.

3. Serum Biomarkers:

The various validated serum biomarkers are capable of diagnosing pancreatic cancer, such as Carbohydrate Antigen (CA) 19-9 and Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA). Carbohydrate Antigen (CA)19 -9 is a confirmed serum biomarker linked with pancreatic cancer, with a sensitivity of 79-81% and specificity of 82-90% for symptomatic patients’ diagnosis. Nonspecific markers such as Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) and CA125 are elevated in people with this malignancy. Serial measurements of CA19-9 are useful for the evaluation of the response to the systemic therapy in the neo-adjuvant or metastatic context and it is frequently an early indicator of the response on imaging.

4. Biopsy:

Fine needle biopsy with endoscopic ultrasound is capable of diagnosing pancreatic cancer disease. The skin sample is taken during a biopsy using a scope. If a biopsy reveals cancer, more tests are performed to establish how far the illness has progressed.

5. Liver function test:

The Carbohydrate Antigen (CA)-19 tumor marker is frequently elevated in pancreatic cancer. The liver function test shows the dysfunction of the bile duct.

6. Cholangiopancreatography:

Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) obtains detailed pictures by introducing an endoscope into the mouth to the pancreas, administering a dye, and then capturing X-rays. The latest ERCP technique is a combination of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and X-ray. The ECRP is capable of diagnosing the dysfunction of the pancreatic ducts.

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Key Market Players in the Diagnostic Industry:

Diagnostic Products:

Therapeutics In Pancreatic Cancer Disease:

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most challenging and aggressive malignancies, with limited treatment options and a high mortality rate. Current therapeutics in pancreatic cancer focus on a multimodal approach, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy as follows,

1. Surgery:

Surgery is used for the removal of cancerous tissue from the pancreas. Various surgical procedures are performed depending on the stage and location of the cancer:

• Whipple Procedure (Pancreaticoduodenectomy):

Most pancreatic cancer surgeries involve this procedure. The pancreatic head, a portion of the duodenum in the small intestine, the gallbladder, and occasionally a portion of the stomach and nearby lymph nodes are removed during this procedure.

• Distal Pancreatectomy:

  This procedure is used to remove the body or tail of the pancreas, depending on where the cancer is found.

• Total Pancreatectomy:

  This surgery involves the removal of the entire pancreas, a section of the stomach, a portion of the small intestine, the common bile duct, the gallbladder, and adjacent lymph nodes.

• Bypass Surgery:

  A bypass operation is performed to unblock the duodenum or bile duct if the tumor is blocking them but cannot be removed entirely.

2. Chemotherapy:

Depending on the type and stage of pancreatic cancer, patients are given chemotherapy alone or in conjunction with radiotherapy. Regardless of whether the tumor is surgically removed or has spread to the lymph nodes, these treatments are used to prolong survival time after surgery. The main therapies are administered alongside other therapies.

Chemotherapy is given in three stages -

• Neoadjuvant Therapy:

The chemotherapy agents are given before the surgery or along with radiation because as the tumor shrinks, it is removed.

• Adjuvant Therapy:

Chemotherapy agents are given after the surgery which is capable of killing any type of cancer cells.

• Advanced Pancreatic Cancer:

The chemotherapeutics are given when a tumor cannot be removed completely by surgery or if cancer has spread to other organs.

Chemotherapy is most effective when two or more medications are administered concurrently (particularly as adjuvant or neoadjuvant treatment). A single medicine (typically Gemcitabine, 5-FU, or Capecitabine) is often used for those who are not healthy enough for combined therapies.

3. Radiation Therapy:

Radiation therapy involves use of the different types of beams for the treatment of pancreatic disease. The proton and high-energy X-ray beam are capable of destroying cancer cells. Radiation therapy is prescribed with a combination of chemotherapy. Several types of radiation therapies are listed below-

• Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT)
• Three-dimensional (3-D) conformal radiation therapy
• Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)
• Image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT)
• Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT)

4. Targeted Therapies:

Targeted medications differ from normal chemotherapy drugs in that they attack just certain cancer cell targets (or nearby cells). They appear to have distinct adverse effects than standard chemotherapy medicines in general.

• Growth Factor Inhibitors:

  Many cancer cells, including pancreatic cancer cells, have proteins on their surfaces that aid in their growth. These proteins are referred to as Growth Factor Receptors. The Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) is one example. Several EGFR-targeting medicines are currently being investigated. Erlotinib (Tarceva), is already approved for use in combination with Gemcitabine.

• Anti-angiogenesis Factors:

  All malignancies rely on new blood vessels to flourish. Anti-angiogenesis medications have been created to prevent the formation of these vessels and thereby starve the tumor. These are being researched in clinical studies for patients with pancreatic cancer.

The European Study Group for Pancreatic Cancer Research (ESPAC) revealed that adjuvant chemotherapy outperformed chemoradiotherapy for the treatment. The major market in the therapeutics segment depends on diagnostic techniques for pancreatic cancer disease.

Therapeutic Market Players:

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Trending Therapeutic Products:

Mechanism of Action of The Gabexate Mesylate:

Gebaxte mesylate also known as Gabexate or Fopian, is a medication for its therapeutic effects in pancreatic diseases, particularly acute pancreatitis. It acts as a protease inhibitor, targeting enzymes responsible for protein breakdown in the body. In conditions like acute pancreatitis, the pancreas experiences excessive protease activation, leading to tissue damage and inflammation.

Clinical Trial Assessment -

Pancreatic therapeutic research has made significant strides, leading to promising advancements in the treatment of pancreatic diseases. The innovative therapies developed through extensive preclinical studies have paved way for the potential clinical trials. DiseaseLandscape Insights provides organizations with up-to-date information on ongoing clinical trials to assist major industry players in capturing market share from rival firms. DiseaseLandscape Insights helps in making decisions in a specific market portfolio.

Ongoing Clinical Trial:

About DLI -

The wide array of services provided by DiseaseLandscape Insights (DLI) includes accurate market size and forecast assessments, detailed treatment studies, annual therapy cost analysis, and comprehensive commercial assessment. These offerings empower clients to navigate the complexities of the healthcare industry with confidence, facilitating better planning and strategic decision-making.

DiseaseLandscape Insights is dedicated to providing high-quality and cutting-edge services with experienced market researchers and business development managers to deliver rapid and in-depth insights into specific market portfolios.

Our comprehensive analysis is a valuable tool for industry stakeholders, researchers, and healthcare professionals, enabling them to make informed decisions and pave the way for a more vibrant future in pancreatic cancer management. It also equips market participants with the knowledge they need to drive effective strategies and add value.