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Chemoprevention for pancreatic cancer
1The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Abstract:
For a number of solid tumors, including pancreatic cancer, efforts aimed at disease prevention may be more successful than currently available anticancer treatments. While specific interventions are emerging to prevent breast, prostate, lung, and colorectal cancer, no trials of chemoprevention are being conducted in pancreatic cancer. Importantly, there are significant obstacles to the conduct of such research. However, preclinical and epidemiologic studies suggest that several drugs may have chemopreventive potential in pancreatic cancer. These include aspirin and other non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), selective cyclooxygenase inhibitors, somatostatin analogs, selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), and anti-androgenic agents. As the oncology community evaluates some of these agents in large chemoprevention trials for breast, colon, and prostate cancer, it may be found that pancreatic cancer prevention occurs as an unintended, but desirable consequence. Moreover, other general societal trends, such as smoking cessation and the widespread use of cholesterol-lowering agents and aspirin, could have a role in reducing the risk of pancreatic cancer, and in the future, may lead to a decrease in its incidence.
Insights
Preventing pancreatic cancer through chemoprevention shows promise with drugs like aspirin and NSAIDs. Further research is needed due to significant obstacles, but potential benefits exist.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Preventive Medicine
Background:
- Current pancreatic cancer treatments are limited.
- Disease prevention strategies may offer greater success.
- No chemoprevention trials are currently underway for pancreatic cancer.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore potential chemopreventive agents for pancreatic cancer.
- To identify obstacles in conducting pancreatic cancer chemoprevention research.
- To review preclinical and epidemiological evidence for drug candidates.
Main Methods:
- Review of preclinical and epidemiological studies.
- Identification of drug classes with potential chemopreventive effects.
- Analysis of ongoing chemoprevention trials for other cancers.
Main Results:
- Aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), selective cyclooxygenase inhibitors, somatostatin analogs, selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), and anti-androgenic agents show potential.
- Pancreatic cancer prevention may occur as a secondary outcome of trials for other cancers.
- Societal trends like smoking cessation and use of cholesterol-lowering agents may reduce risk.
Conclusions:
- Several drugs demonstrate chemopreventive potential for pancreatic cancer.
- Overcoming research obstacles is crucial for developing targeted prevention strategies.
- Widespread adoption of preventive measures could decrease pancreatic cancer incidence.