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Updated: Jun 22, 2026

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Reprogramming Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma to Pluripotency
Published on: February 2, 2024
Pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma: a multi-institutional study
Jesus M Matos1, C Max Schmidt, Olivier Turrini
1Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
Summary
Acinar cell carcinoma (ACC) of the pancreas, though rare, presents differently and has a better prognosis than pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (DCA). ACC patients show superior survival rates post-resection compared to DCA patients.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Gastroenterology
- Surgical Pathology
Background:
- Pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma (ACC) is a rare subtype of pancreatic cancer.
- Its clinical presentation and prognostic factors may differ from the more common pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (DCA).
- Understanding ACC's natural history is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the distinct clinical presentation and outcomes of pancreatic ACC.
- To compare the survival rates of ACC patients with those of DCA patients.
- To analyze ACC's natural history using multi-institutional data.
Main Methods:
- A multi-institutional retrospective review was conducted.
- Data from 17 pathologically confirmed ACC cases (1988-2008) were analyzed.
- Patient demographics, symptoms, treatments, tumor characteristics, and survival data were collected.
Main Results:
- Common symptoms included abdominal pain, back pain, and weight loss.
- Median age at presentation was 59 years.
- 1- and 5-year survival rates for all ACC patients were 88% and 50%, respectively. For resected cases, median survival was 61 months, significantly longer than the 24 months for resected DCA from literature.
Conclusions:
- Pancreatic ACC is rare and has a distinct presentation and outcome compared to pancreatic DCA.
- The prognosis for patients with ACC appears to be superior to that of patients with pancreatic DCA.
- Multi-institutional data confirm ACC's unique clinical trajectory and better survival outcomes.
