Genetic predisposition for pancreatic cancer

Abstract

Abstract Pancreatic cancer (PC) is widely prevalent in the world and is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Most patients with PC present with advanced or metastatic disease. Despite advances in the development of radiological techniques and chemotherapeutic drugs, PC still has a poor prognosis. There are several risk factors for PC, among the most prominent of which are cigarette smoking, a high body mass index particularly during early adulthood, and diabetes mellitus. It is suggested that genetic susceptibility and predisposition for PC is a crucial factor. To investigate the single nucleotide polymorphisms, it is important to have a better understanding of the molecular biology and predictive tests for PC. Therefore, it is crucial to identify positive predictive factors because genetics have a prominent role in PC development. In this chapter, we discuss the association between the polymorphism of some candidate genes and PC. Taken together, the genetic polymorphism of contributed genes in PC suggests that genetic susceptibility and predisposition might be involved in the development of PC. Notably, different genetic variants may act together and alter susceptibility to PC. It is hoped that genetic signatures coupled with available standards of care (better-matched therapies) may provide a more personalized approach to managing patients with PC.