Pancreatic cancer risk factors

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Aravind Reddy Kothagadi M.B.B.S[2]

Pancreatic cancer is associated with number of predisposing risk factors such as age, gender, ethnicity, and environmental exposures. The most potent risk factors for pancreatic cancer include smoking, alcoholism, increased BMI, diabetes mellitus, chronic pancreatitis and a family history of pancreatic cancer. Individuals with hereditary pancreatitis, familial pancreatic cancer, Peutz-Jeghers disease, familial atypical multiple mole melanoma syndrome (FAMMM), von Hippel-Lindau syndrome, multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1, cystic fibrosis of the pancreas and familial cancer syndromes such as lynch syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and hereditary breast and ovarian cancer-BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations are also at an increased risk of pancreatic cancer. Other medical conditions which pose as a risk factor for pancreatic cancer are inflammatory bowel disease, periodontal disease and peptic ulcer disease.

• The most potent risk factors for pancreatic cancer include smoking, alcoholism, increased BMI, diabetes mellitus, chronic pancreatitis and a family history of pancreatic cancer.
• Individuals with the following conditions are also at an increased risk of pancreatic cancer:^[1][2][3]

• • Hereditary pancreatitis
  • Familial pancreatic cancer
  • Peutz-Jeghers disease
  • Familial atypical mole melanoma syndrome (FAMMM)
  • Cystic fibrosis of pancreas
  • Familial cancer syndromes such as:
    • Lynch syndrome
    • Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)
    • Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome
    • Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1
    • Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer-BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations

• Risk factors for Pancreatic cancer are illustrated in the following tables:

• Risk factors for Pancreatic Cancers:^[4]

• Risk Factors and Inherited Syndromes associated with Pancreatic Cancer:^[5]

Early-Onset Pancreatic Cancer is defined as pancreatic cancer at age of onset less than 50 years.

*Alcohol consumption of more than 26g/day compared to less than 26g/day was associated with early-onset pancreatic cancer, particularly among individuals younger than 45 years.^[6]

Following risk factors were more strongly associated with early-onset pancreatic cancer than with later-onset pancreatic cancer^[7]:

• Diabetes
• Non-O Blood Group
  • Non-O Blood Group was more strongly associated with pancreatic risk among participants aged 70 years or younger vs those older than 70 years.
• Obesity
• Smoking
• Tall Height
• Those with early-onset pancreatic cancer were more likely to have a family history of pancreatic cancer were more likely to have a family history of pancreatic cancer in a first degree relative.^[6]

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