Innovation in Pancreatic Cancer Treatment

The idea

Exocrine pancreatic cancer is still associated with a poor outcome and low patient quality of life, which are mainly attributed to its aggressive biology and late diagnosis. Pancreatic cancer has the poorest survival odds among solid tumours. In more than 80 per cent of patients, the cancer is diagnosed in advanced or metastatic stages when surgery is not an option and chemotherapy is the only option to control the progression of the disease. No targeted therapies have demonstrated benefit on first-line treatment. Pancreatic cancer is notoriously hard to treat because it is surrounded by an abundant stroma containing normal cells that modify their behaviour and finally collaborate with the cancer cells to promote their growth, invasion, travel through the blood and nest in other organs also called as metastatic process. They also protect the cancer cells from the immune system’s natural role to attack invaders. Nevertheless, scientific research is moving further, and provides us with some innovative techniques to prevent, diagnose at an earlier stage and treat with precision pancreatic cancer. The international workshop on Innovation in Treatment was organised by PCE to promote an exchange of the information and best practices on some latest innovative approaches to treatments.

The event took place on Tuesday, 28 June 2022. It aimed to share information on innovative treatments for pancreatic cancer and to promote the exchange of best practices and experiences among practitioners, professionals, patients, patient organisations and other relevant stakeholders.

The programme

Prof Alfredo Carrato, PCE Chairperson: Welcome message

The state of the art regarding the Pancreatic Cancer treatments:

Prof Alfredo Carrato: Neoadjuvant and/or adjuvant treatments 

Prof Sorin Barbu: surgical treatment 

Innovative approaches in treatment:

Dr José Ignacio Botella Carretero: Nutrition as a treatment component in all stages

Dr Riccardo De Robertis Lombardi – University of Verona, Italy 

Dr Salvatore Paiella – Istituto del Pancreas in Verona, Italy

The point of view of patients organisations:

Mrs Iga Rawicka – EuropaColon Polska, Poland

Conclusions and closing of the event

The event is supported by