The Pancreatic Cyst and Cancer Early Detection Clinic (PCC-EDC) — a joint effort among IU Health, IU School of Medicine, and IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center — coordinates the care, follow-up and research involving nearly 1,000 patients at increased risk of pancreatic cancer. The clinic seeks to accurately identify, screen and risk stratify patients at increased risk for pancreatic cancer to promote early detection and prevention. It keeps a registry to track all patients to optimize follow-up and update patients of new developments. The clinic is multidisciplinary (surgery, gastroenterology, radiology, pathology, cytopathology, cytogenetics, nutrition and social work) to promote optimal care. All patient consultations and visits are routinely performed by a pancreatic surgeon or pancreatologist.
Pancreatic Cyst and Cancer Early Detection Clinic
The mission of the PCC-EDC is to promote early detection and prevent pancreatic cancer through multidisciplinary screening clinics, registries, community outreach, education and research discovery.
The impact
- Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (pancreatic cancer) is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States (US), with mortality nearly equal to incidence.
- Less than 5% of patients survive five years from the time of diagnosis.
- Pancreatic cancer is anticipated to account for 48,000 deaths in the US this year alone.
Treatment
- This incidence of cancer-related mortality is nearly equivalent to breast cancer in the US.
- Surgery can cure patients with pancreatic cancer, but this occurs rarely.
- Surgical cure is possible only when the cancer is detected early.
- Non-surgical treatment modalities have been largely ineffective.
- Pancreatic cancer thus represents the deadliest cancer.
Early detection
- A cure for patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer is actively being sought.
- A significant difference can be made today by accurately identifying groups of patients at high risk of developing pancreatic cancer.
- Screening and stratifying the risk promotes early detection and prevention.
3 research discoveries that vet whether patients may benefit from pancreatic cancer surgery
Recommending pancreas surgery is a serious decision: If a removed lesion turns out to be early cancer, surgery saved the patient’s life. If the lesion is benign, the patient went through an intense and invasive procedure that ultimately was not beneficial.
Early detection & screening
Pancreatic cancer may occur without warning signs and symptoms. This underscores the importance of early detection. Although no screening test is applicable for the population in general, screening is indeed effective in high-risk groups.
High-risk groups include:
- Patients with pancreatic cysts
- Patients with hereditary pancreatic cancer
By accurately identifying patients at increased risk, screening and proper risk stratification may occur to promote early detection and prevention of pancreatic cancer.
In addition, following such patients and understanding their natural history will promote identification of more robust early detection biomarkers for use in the population in general.
Diagnosis & treatment
Diagnosis of pancreatic cysts is complicated. Importantly, the type of pancreatic cyst needs to be determined, and if a pre-cancerous (i.e., mucinous) type, the risk (low or high) of pancreatic cancer needs to be determined. Treatment of low-risk pancreatic cysts may entail observation with periodic interval history, physical exam, lab tests, MRI or CT scans, endoscopic ultrasound, biopsy and molecular analyses. The treatment of high-risk pancreatic cysts is most often surgical removal. New treatments are being investigated involving injection of pancreatic cysts with alcohol and chemotherapeutic agents (e.g., paclitaxel) in select patients.
Have you been diagnosed with a pancreatic cyst?
If so, you will need to be seen by a physician who specializes in pancreatic disease. Contact your primary care physician for a referral to a pancreatic disease specialist. Most commonly this is a gastroenterologist or a general surgeon who has received specialized training in the management of pancreatic diseases. This individual may provide screening themselves or may be able to direct you to a qualified screening clinic in your area. Such screening clinics, if available, will typically be at major medical centers housed within a university (academic) setting.
Have you been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer?
If so, you will need to be seen by a physician who specializes in pancreatic disease. Contact your primary care physician for a referral to a pancreatic disease specialist. Most commonly this is a gastroenterologist, oncologist or a general surgeon who has received specialized training in the management of pancreatic diseases. This individual may provide treatment themselves or may be able to direct you to a qualified treatment clinic in your area. Most major medical centers housed within a university (academic) setting will have such resources. Several excellent web-based resources for patients with pancreatic cancer are already established (see links below).
The Pancreatic Cyst and Cancer Early Detection Clinic is located on the first floor in the surgical outpatient area (SOPA) of Indiana University Health University Hospital, 550 University Blvd, Indianapolis, IN 46202.
New/Established Patients:
Samantha Waggoner
Administrative Assistant
317-948-8358
samawagg@iu.edu
Staff Listing:
Eugene Ceppa, MD
Surgical Co-Director
eceppa@iu.edu
Lauren Glenn, NP
Surgical Provider
lglenn2@iuhealth.org
Jennifer Rempala-Kurucz,RN
Pancreatic Cyst Program Navigator
317-948-9040
jrempalakuru@iuhealth.org
Alexandra Roch, MD
Surgical Co-Director
alexroch@iu.edu
C. Max Schmidt, MD, PhD, MBA
Surgical Co-Director
maxschmi@iu.edu
Donate
Donate to support the PCC-EDC’s research through the Pancreatic Cyst and Cancer Early Detection Fund at the IU School of Medicine.
