Genetics of Pancreatic Neoplasms and Role of Screening

There is a wide spectrum of pancreatic neoplasms with characteristic genetic abnormalities, tumor pathways, and histopathology that primarily determine tumor biology, treatment response, and prognosis. Although most pancreatic tumors are sporadic, 10% of neoplasms occur in the setting of distinct hereditary syndromes. Detailed studies of these rare syndromes have allowed researchers to identify a myriad of specific genetic signatures of pancreatic tumors. A better understanding of tumor genomics may have significant clinical implications in the diagnosis and management of patients with pancreatic tumors. Evolving knowledge has paved the way to screening paradigms and protocols in individuals at higher risk of developing pancreatic tumors.