Identifying people at a high risk of developing pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is a leading cause of cancer death, and it has the poorest prognosis of any major tumour type. Familial pancreatic cancer registries are important for investigating the genetic aetiology of this devastating disease. Using data from our familial pancreatic cancer registry and other registries, this Review discusses the usefulness of family registries in the study of pancreatic and other cancers, and also how such registries provide a unique opportunity for laboratory, population and clinical research.