Pancreatic cancer begins when abnormal cells grow in the pancreas — an organ behind the stomach that produces enzymes for digestion and hormones that regulate blood sugar. It is often difficult to detect early because symptoms may not appear until the disease has progressed.

In the United States, tens of thousands of people are diagnosed each year, and the disease has one of the highest mortality rates among major cancers. For all stages combined, the five-year survival rate is about 13%, largely due to late diagnosis. Most cases (over 90%) are pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, which develops in cells that produce digestive enzymes.