Hereditary Pancreatic Cancer

Hereditary pancreatic cancer risk and genetic testing

Understand your risk of developing hereditary pancreatic cancer with genetic testing insights. Testing can help you and your healthcare provider create a customized preventive care plan.

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Fast facts on pancreatic cancer

  • An estimated 66,440 new cases of pancreatic cancer are diagnosed in the U.S. each year1
  • Pancreatic cancer is associated with multiple hereditary cancer syndromes, which are caused by mutations in specific genes passed from parents to children
  • Genetic testing can identify gene mutations likely to contribute to hereditary pancreatic cancer

Is pancreatic cancer genetic?

Some cases of pancreatic cancer are caused by a gene mutation that can be passed from generation to generation. Such mutations are responsible for about 10 percent of pancreatic cancers.2

When pancreatic cancer is the predominant cancer in a family, some of the most commonly known hereditary causes are mutations in the PALB2, BRCA2 and CDKN2A genes.

Can pancreatic cancer run in the family?

Having family members (particularly first-degree relatives, which include parents, siblings, and children) with pancreatic cancer raises your potential risk, even without a known hereditary cause.

What are some early, often overlooked symptoms of pancreatic cancer?

Fatigue or physical weakness – A lack of energy that is not related to physical activity can be a symptom of pancreatic cancer. It’s often overlooked, however, because feelings of fatigue or weakness have other, more common causes.3

Weight loss – A loss of appetite and unintended weight loss are common symptoms, as the cancer demands more and more of the body’s energy. When the pancreas isn’t functioning optimally, the body may be unable to extract adequate nutrients from food.3

Blood clots – An early sign of pancreatic cancer is often a blood clot in a large vein in the leg, which can lead to pain and swelling. There are many causes of blood clots, so the pain may not be attributed to cancer until other symptoms develop.3

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, consider speaking to your medical provider about genetic testing for hereditary pancreatic cancer. Genetic testing can help you identify and better understand your risk.

Can pancreatic cancer be prevented?

There is no proven way to prevent pancreatic cancer. However, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk:4

  • Maintain a healthy body weight
  • Make physical activity part of your regular routine
  • Follow a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
  • Refrain from smoking
  • Limit exposure to certain chemicals
  • Limit your alcohol intake
  • See a doctor regularly

Heavy alcohol use has been linked to pancreatic cancer and can lead to chronic pancreatitis, which is known to increase pancreatic cancer risk.
Regularly seeing a doctor can help further reduce your risk, as identifying and removing precancerous lesions early can prevent pancreatic cancer from developing.

Who is at high risk for pancreatic cancer?

Knowing your potential risk can help you and your healthcare provider make informed decisions about your health before the onset of cancer or before a second cancer has a chance to develop.
Risk factors can include:5

  • Chronic pancreatitis (long-term inflammation of the pancreas)
  • Cirrhosis (condition where scar tissue has replaced damaged liver tissue)
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Helicobacter pylori (a bacterium that can cause stomach inflammation and ulcers)
  • Exposure to certain chemicals (pesticides, dyes and chemicals that may be used in metal refining)
  • Family history of cancer – having family members with pancreatic cancer raises the risk of pancreatic cancer, even in the absence of a known hereditary cause
  • Genetic mutation in a pancreatic cancer predisposition gene

Genetic testing for hereditary pancreatic cancer should be considered if:*

  • You have a personal history of pancreatic cancer6-11
  • You have a first-degree relative** with pancreatic cancer
  • You have a family history of pancreatic cancer and melanoma
  • There is a previously identified PALB2, BRCA2 or CDKN2A mutation in your family12-18

*Assessment criteria are based on scientific literature
**First-degree relatives include parents, siblings, and children.

How to determine your hereditary pancreatic cancer risk

MyRisk® Hereditary Cancer Test

MyRisk gives you a clearer understanding of your individual risk for 11 different types of hereditary cancers, including pancreatic cancer. By evaluating 48 genes associated with hereditary cancer risk, MyRisk with RiskScore® identifies genetic changes associated with an increased cancer risk.

When combined with family history and other clinical factors, MyRisk with RiskScore provides a cancer risk assessment individualized to you. MyRisk’s actionable results can be the foundation for a personalized care plan and help you make more informed medical management decisions.

Take the next step with MyRisk Hereditary Cancer Testing.

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What will the results tell me?

If MyRisk confirms the presence of a PALB2, BRCA2, CDKN2A or other gene mutation associated with pancreatic cancer, the following medical management options may help reduce your cancer risk or detect the cancer at an earlier, more treatable stage:†

  • Pancreatic screening and surveillance specific to people with a BRCA2, PALB2, CDKN2A or other gene mutation associated with pancreatic cancer
  • Increased surveillance for melanoma and helpful strategies for avoiding UV exposure for those with CDKN2A gene mutations

Your test results can also help your family members learn and understand more about inherited cancer risk and how it may affect them.

†Any discussion of medical management options is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute a recommendation. While genetic testing and medical society guidelines provide important and useful information, all medical management decisions should be made based on consultation between each patient and their healthcare professional.

Pancreatic cancer diagnosis and treatment

If you have already been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, these additional tests can help guide you and your healthcare provider in identifying the most effective treatment plan options.

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References

  1. National Cancer Institute. Cancer stat facts: Pancreatic Cancer. Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program. https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/pancreas.html. Accessed October 22, 2024.
  2. National Cancer Institute. Familial pancreatic cancer. Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program. https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/familial-pancreatic-cancer. Accessed October 7, 2022.
  3. American Cancer Society. Signs and Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/pancreatic-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/signs-and-symptoms.html. Accessed October 22, 2024.
  4. American Cancer Society. Can Pancreatic Cancer Be Prevented? https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/pancreatic-cancer/causes-risks-prevention/prevention.html. Accessed October 22, 2024.
  5. American Cancer Society. Pancreatic Cancer Risk Factors. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/pancreatic-cancer/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.html. Accessed October 22, 2024.
  6. Jones S, et al. Exomic sequencing identifies PALB2 as a pancreatic cancer susceptibility gene. Science 2009;324(5924):217
  7. Slater EP, et al. PALB2 mutations in European familial pancreatic cancer families. Clin Genet 2010;78:490-4
  8. Tischkowitz MD, et al. Analysis of the gene coding for the BRCA2-interacting protein PALB2 in familial and sporadic pancreatic cancer. Gastroenterology 2009;137(3):1183-6.
  9. Couch FJ, et al. The prevalence of BRCA2 mutations in familial pancreatic cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007;16(2):342-6.
  10. Hahn SA, et al. BRCA2 germline mutations in familial pancreatic carcinoma. J Natl Cancer Inst 2003;95(3):214-21.
  11. Murphy KM, et al. Evaluation of candidate genes MAP2K4, MADH4, ACVR1B and BRCA2 in familial pancreatic cancer: deleterious BRCA2 mutations in 17%. Cancer Res 2002;62(13):3789-93.
  12. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). Genetic risk assessment and BRCA mutation testing for breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility. Ann Intern Med 2005;143(5):355-61.
  13. American Society of Breast Surgeons Official Statement, BRCA Genetic Testing for Patients With and Without Breast Cancer, 2006. Available at: http://www.breastsurgeons.org/statements/index.php
  14. Lancaster JM, et al. Society of Gynecologic Oncologists (SGO) Education Committee Statement on Risk Assessment for Inherited Gynecological Cancer Predispositions. Gynecol Oncol 2007;107(2):159-62. Available at: http://www.sgo.org/WorkArea/showcontent.aspx?id=882
  15. American College of Medical Genetics Foundation. Genetic Susceptibility to Breast and Ovarian Cancer: Assessment, counseling, and testing guidelines. 1999 (copyright is 2005). Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK56955/
  16. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Committee on Practice Bulletins. Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome. Gynecol Oncol 2009;113(1):6-11. Available at: Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome.
  17. Daly MB, et al. (2015) NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology, Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment Breast and Ovarian, V.2.2015. J Natl Compr Canc Netw Available t:http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/f_guidelines.asp
  18. Bevers TB, et al. (2015) NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology: Breast Cancer Screening and Diagnosis, BSCR-1-3, V.1.2015. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. Available at: http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/f_guidelines.asp
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