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Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Isolation of Human Islets from Partially Pancreatectomized Patients
Published on: July 30, 2011
Is glucagonoma of the pancreas a curable disease?
Q D Chu1, M F Al-kasspooles, J L Smith
1Department of Surgical Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, State University of New York at Buffalo, 14263-0001, USA.
Background:
Glucagonomas are rare neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas. Because of its rarity, its natural history is not well understood.
Aim:
We evaluated the natural history of glucagonomas treated at a tertiary care cancer center.
Methods:
A retrospective analysis of 12 patients during 1970 to 2000 was performed. Six patients (50%) had a tumor located in the head of the pancreas.
Results:
Abdominal pain (83%) and weight loss (75%) were the most common symptoms. Median tumor size was 6 cm (range 0.04-10). Seven patients (58%) had liver metastases. Five patients (42%) underwent curative resection. Overall median survival was 66 mo, and 5-yr overall survival was 66%. Five-yr overall survival was 83% for patients who had resection versus 50% for the non-resected patients (p = 0.04). Patients who were disease-free had a complete resection of the primary tumor and no liver involvement.
Conclusions:
Glucagonomas generally present with liver metastases at the time of diagnosis. Cure is only possible if the disease is localized and completely resected.
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