Pancreatic cancer (pancreatic carcinoma) is one of the most aggressive types of cancer. Immunotherapy is still widely underestimated in treatment. As a highly specialized cancer therapy center, the Hallwang Clinic provides patients from all over the world access to cutting-edge precision medicine and advanced combination therapies.
Pancreatic cancer, also known as pancreatic carcinoma, is a malignant tumor of the pancreas. This type of cancer is among the most aggressive tumors and is particularly challenging to treat due to its late diagnosis and rapid spread.
Cancers of the gastrointestinal, gastro-pancreatic, and gastro-hepatic regions of the body are typically primary, meaning they originate in the stomach, intestines, pancreas, gallbladder, or liver. From there, they can spread to other organs via the blood or lymphatic system (metastasis).
Tumor cells exhibit several characteristic features, including uncontrolled cell growth, increased cell division, and the ability to promote the formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) to ensure the tumor’s nutrient supply.
Diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer
In its early stages, pancreatic cancer usually causes few or non-specific symptoms, which is why it is often diagnosed at an advanced stage. Possible signs include nausea, diarrhea, constipation, blood in the stool, unexplained weight loss, and jaundice (icterus). Due to these non-specific symptoms, diagnosis often occurs only after patients visit their primary care physician. Initial diagnostic methods include ultrasound and imaging techniques, fecal occult blood tests (for detecting blood in the stool), and endoscopies of the stomach and intestines. Some of these examinations are part of recommended preventive screenings starting at a certain age and can help detect abnormalities early.
If pancreatic carcinoma or another tumor in the gastrointestinal, gastro-pancreatic, or hepatic region is suspected, advanced imaging techniques such as PET-CT (positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography) and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) are used. These methods allow precise tumor localization, size assessment, and indications of possible metastases. If a suspicious mass is detected, a tissue biopsy is performed. The subsequent histopathological analysis provides information about the tumor’s cell type. Since there are many different tumor types with specific genetic characteristics, this examination is essential for targeted therapy planning.
In most university centers, molecular genetic analysis has become standard. This examination identifies genetic alterations in the tumor tissue that drive cancer growth and offer potential targets for personalized therapies.
Important to know: Even if molecular genetic screening was not performed during the initial biopsy, the tissue can be analyzed later. The extracted material is stored in the hospital’s histopathology department and remains available for further genetic analyses and sequencing.
Advanced high-throughput technologies enable the identification of mutations in tumor tissue, allowing personalized therapy. This precise diagnostics can significantly improve treatment success rates.
A thorough tumor tissue screening is essential to explore all options for targeted pancreatic cancer treatment. Therefore, it is crucial to find a laboratory at the beginning of therapy evaluation that examines your tumor tissue for all markers and mutations and to discuss the results with an experienced oncologist committed to working with you in the best and most targeted way.
Pancreatic Cancer Treatment: What Is the Best Therapy?
Tumors of the gastrointestinal, gastro-pancreatic, and gastro-hepatic regions are classified based on their histological appearance and spread – whether the tumor is localized or has already metastasized. This classification largely determines the choice of therapy.
In early stages, the tumor can often be surgically removed. Complementary chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy are frequently used to minimize the risk of recurrence. These multimodal approaches increase the chances of cure, especially if the tumor can be completely resected.
If surgical removal is no longer possible or the tumor has already metastasized, various local and systemic treatment methods are available:
- Transarterial Chemoembolization (TACE): A procedure in which the tumor’s blood supply is deliberately interrupted while simultaneously injecting chemotherapy drugs directly into the tumor.
- Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIRT): Microscopically small radioactive particles are introduced into the blood vessels supplying the tumor to irradiate it locally.
- Other local therapy options: These include ablative procedures such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA) or microwave ablation (MWA).
Genetic analysis of tumor tissue is crucial for developing personalized therapies. Many of these tumors harbor therapy-relevant mutations or express surface markers that can be specifically targeted. Standardized protocols now consider numerous genetic peculiarities.
Patients who have undergone multiple treatment lines often develop resistance to standard therapies. In such cases, targeted therapies can help – especially if the tumor exhibits specific biomarker constellations. A significant example is Human Epidermal Growth Factor 2 (HER2). While this biomarker is primarily found in breast cancer, it can also occur in gastrointestinal, gastro-pancreatic, and gastro-hepatic tumors. In such cases, immunotherapeutic approaches using monoclonal antibodies or antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) may be considered.
Patients with these biomarker constellations are often restricted in their home countries, as HER2-targeted therapies are only approved for breast cancer or are only available in clinical trials. Other biomarkers include MSI, MSS, cMET, EpCAM, Survivin, and NY-ESO-1. Immunotherapeutic approaches for these cancer types are frequently underestimated. However, immunotherapy can be highly valuable for gastrointestinal, gastro-pancreatic, and gastro-hepatic cancers and may be used within a synergistic concept.
Synergysing therapeutic approach
A synergising therapeutic approach is the combination of an immune priming approach, immune activation approach, and a chemotherapy that works in synergy with the immunotherapeutic approaches. Within a synergising concept, one needs to consider all aspects of the patient’s medical history, other diagnosis, and general well-being, as well as the available diagnostic constellations and ongoing treatments. Within a synergising concept, one is highly considering a precision-based combination of therapies that are evaluated for each individual case.
Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer at the Hallwang Clinic
The Hallwang Clinic has developed one of the world’s most advanced genomic and immunotherapeutic profiles. Thanks to our first-class expert network, close research collaborations, and unrestricted access to the most innovative therapies, we have a significant advantage in providing personalized cancer treatments. Our highly specialized oncology team focuses on:
- Cutting-edge precision medicine
- Comprehensive genetic analysis for targeted therapy
- Advanced combination therapies for improved treatment outcomes
- Holistic and integrative oncology care
Thanks to this multidisciplinary treatment approach, we achieve outstanding results – even in advanced disease stages such as stage 4 cancer. Our therapy concepts aim not only to improve survival rates but also to sustainably enhance our patients’ quality of life.
Get a Consultation
Our oncology team is happy to provide a phone consultation to gain a deeper understanding of your specific case. This also allows us to create a preliminary treatment plan and cost estimate. Our oncologists will inform you in detail about medications, therapies, and treatments, including underlying mechanisms and side effects.
After a physical examination and a comprehensive on-site discussion, the definitive treatment plan will be determined. Please understand that complex medical processes, as mentioned above, can only be thoroughly explained through an in-depth consultation on-site.
We accompany you step by step on your journey – with expertise, compassion, and a tailored therapy approach.