Our Impact

Annual Meeting

Each year, the World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition hosts an Annual Meeting for our members to share best practices, celebrate our accomplishments, increase collaboration, network around the globe and learn the latest from our pancreatic cancer scientific community. The 2020 Annual Meeting was cancelled due to the pandemic, but in 2021 we held a successful Virtual Annual Meeting using an engaging and interactive platform. While the 2022 Annual Meeting will again be held virtually over 3 days in September and October, we are already beginning the planning for the 2023 Annual Meeting where we will once again gather in person to reactivate the WPCC community.

World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition members will receive a personal invitation to register for the 2022 Annual Meeting in early June.

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World Pancreatic Cancer Day

Each November, during Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, we come together on World Pancreatic Cancer Day to unite the globe in bringing attention to pancreatic cancer and highlighting the need for greater awareness, funding, and research. By standing in unison against this deadly disease, we can create a brighter future for people fighting pancreatic cancer around the world.

World Pancreatic Cancer Day is November 16, 2023

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Global Cancers Coalition Network

The WPCC is delighted to be a part of the Global Cancer Coalition Network (GCCN) which was formed in the wake of COVID-19. GCCN is a collaboration of nine global cancer coalitions and alliances, representing 750 patient organizations working on behalf of 14 million cancer patients around the world.

In December 2020, six GCCN members (including the WPCC) collaborated on a survey examining the impact of COVID-19 on the global cancer community.

The survey results were announced in February 2021 in GCCN’s REPORT COVID-19: IMPACT ON CANCER PATIENT ORGANISATIONS WORLDWIDE IN 2020.

This work updates and extends FINDINGS from a survey of cancer patient organizations worldwide, first carried out in June 2020.

The GCCN report was presented via a live online event on World Cancer Day. You can watch the recording on Vimeo HERE.

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WPCC Key Messages

The World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition (WPCC) created the following evidence-based public statements to bring consistency to how WPCC members share information about the disease, support, treatment and more. Each statement is supported by the latest guidelines and/or published research, as referenced below.

Clinical Trials

Key message: The World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition strongly recommends that everyone diagnosed with pancreatic cancer is given the opportunity to take part in a clinical trial.

Evidence: Pancreatic cancer patients who participate in clinical research have better outcomes. Clinical trials can advance research and improve treatment options

Cancer Net: About Clinical Trials
https://www.cancer.net/research-and-advocacy/clinical-trials/about-clinical-trials
FDA Clinical Research vs. Medical Treatment
https://www.fda.gov/patients/clinical-trials-what-patients-need-know/clinical-research-versus-medical-treatment
National Institute of Health (NIH): NIH Clinical Research Trials and You
https://www.nih.gov/health-information/nih-clinical-research-trials-you/basics#8
Pancreatic Cancer Trials and Accrual in the United States
https://ascopubs.org/doi/full/10.1200/jco.2013.49.4823
NIH: Clinical Research Trials and You – Why Should I Participate in a Clinical Trial?
https://www.nih.gov/health-information/nih-clinical-research-trials-you/why-should-i-participate-clinical-trial
NCCN Guidelines: Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma
https://jnccn.org/abstract/journals/jnccn/8/9/article-p972.pdf
Pancreatic cancer: Survival in clinical trials versus the real world
https://meetinglibrary.asco.org/record/120468/video
Patient and caregiver awareness of pancreatic cancer treatments and clinical trials
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4783733/#r10

Diet & Nutrition

Key message: The World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition recommends that everyone diagnosed with pancreatic cancer has their nutritional needs assessed by someone with nutritional expertise, is offered information about diet and nutrition, and has access to pancreatic enzymes.

Evidence: Nutritional care, including supplemental pancreatic enzymes, improves pancreatic cancer patient outcomes and is critical for quality of life.

Nutritional intervention and quality of life in adult oncology patients
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17368656
Enzyme replacement therapy for pancreatic insufficiency: present and future
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3132852/
Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency in Patients with Pancreatic or Periampullary Cancer: A Systematic Review
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26495777
Diagnosing exocrine pancreatic insufficiency after surgery: when and which patients to treat
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2798170/
Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) for malabsorption in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25164613
Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency following pancreatic resection
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26145836
Weight stabilization is associated with improved survival duration and quality of life in unresectable pancreatic cancer
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15030964
Enzyme replacement improves survival among patients with pancreatic cancer: Results of a population-based study
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30385188
Pancreas exocrine replacement therapy is associated with increased survival following pancreatoduodenectomy for periampullary malignancy
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1365182X17308006
Enzyme replacement improves survival among patients with pancreatic cancer: Results of a population-based study
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30385188
Impact of the treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency on survival of patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer: a retrospective analysis
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5935964/pdf/12885_2018_Article_4439.pdf
Prevalence of symptomatic pancreatic exocrine insufficiency in patients with pancreatic malignancy intervention may improve survival
The effectiveness of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy for malabsorption
in advanced pancreatic cancer, a pilot study
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1178224218825270

Patient Support

Key message: The World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition recommends that all patients and their family and caregivers are provided information about where to access support.

Evidence: Support for pancreatic cancer patients improves quality of life and overall well-being, yet patients report high levels of unmet supportive care needs.

Importance of social support in cancer patients
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23098436
Patients with cancer and family caregivers: management of symptoms caused by cancer or cancer therapy at home
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3767444/
Pancreatic Cancer UK Patient Survey, Oxford Brookes University and the Picker Institute, 2018

Symptom Management and Supportive Care Needs

Key message: The World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition recommends that pancreatic cancer patients have their symptom management and supportive care needs addressed at all stages of treatment.

Evidence: Access to healthcare professionals who focus on symptom management and supportive care improves outcomes and is critical for quality of life.

Pain services and palliative medicine – an integrated approach to pain management in the cancer patient
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4616727/
Cancer pain relief and palliative care. Report of a WHO Expert Committee
https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/39524/WHO_TRS_804.pdf
;jsessionid=A3A3A0C74F94C4E4405E9A125669217F?sequence=1
Randomized trial of early integrated palliative and oncology care
https://meetinglibrary.asco.org/record/136346/abstract
Determinants and prognostic value of quality of life in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
https://www.ejcancer.com/article/S0959-8049(17)31512-5/fulltext
Depression and pancreatic cancer
Integration of Palliative Care into Standard Oncology Care: American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline Update
https://ascopubs.org/doi/full/10.1200/JCO.2016.70.1474
NIH Panel: Treatment of Cancer Pain, Depression, & Fatigue Needs More Attention
https://journals.lww.com/oncology-times/Fulltext/2002/09000/NIH_Panel
__Treatment_of_Cancer_Pain%2c_Depression%2c__.1.aspx

High-Risk Individuals

Key message: The World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition recommends increased awareness of family history and access to genetic counselling to assess individual risk, as well as testing for those who are eligible.

Evidence: People with two or more first-degree relatives who have had pancreatic cancer, a first-degree relative who developed pancreatic cancer before the age of 50, or an inherited genetic syndrome associated with pancreatic cancer may have an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer.

Importance of Age of Onset in Pancreatic Cancer Kindreds
https://academic.oup.com/jnci/article/102/2/119/920769
International Cancer of the Pancreas Screening (CAPS) Consortium summit on the management of patients with increased risk for familial pancreatic cancer
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3585492/
Familial Pancreatic Cancer
https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/familial-pancreatic-cancer
Hereditary pancreatic cancer: related syndromes and clinical perspective
https://hccpjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13053-017-0069-6
Increased risk of incident pancreatic cancer among first-degree relatives of patients with familial pancreatic cancer
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11297271
Risk of Different Cancers Among First-degree Relatives of Pancreatic Cancer Patients: Influence of Probands’ Susceptibility Gene Mutation Status
https://europepmc.org/articles/pmc6410948
Pancreatic cancer in adults: diagnosis and management
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng85/chapter/Recommendations

Pancreatic Cancer Symptoms

Key message: The World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition recommends increased awareness of pancreatic cancer and the following symptoms that people may experience:

Unexplained weight loss
Yellow skin or eyes
Changes in stool
New-onset diabetes
Digestive problems
Loss of appetite
Mood change

Evidence: Pancreatic cancer often doesn’t cause any signs or symptoms in the early stages, and symptoms can be vague.

Detecting early pancreatic cancer: problems and prospects
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17674956
Understanding symptom appraisal and help-seeking in people with symptoms suggestive of pancreatic cancer: a qualitative study
https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/7/9/e015682
“It can’t be very important because it comes and goes”—patients’ accounts of intermittent symptoms preceding a pancreatic cancer diagnosis: a qualitative study
https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/4/2/e004215
A case–control study comparing the incidence of early symptoms in pancreatic and biliary tract cancer
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4244441/
The risk of pancreatic cancer in symptomatic patients in primary care: a large case–control study using electronic records
https://www.nature.com/articles/bjc2012190
Early Detection of Pancreatic Cancer: The Role of Depression and Anxiety as a Precursor for Disease
https://journals.lww.com/pancreasjournal/Fulltext/2018/04000/
Early_Detection_of_Pancreatic_Cancer__The_Role_of.1.aspx

Pancreatic Cancer Risks

Key message: The World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition recommends increased awareness of the following pancreatic cancer risks:

Inherited genetic mutations
Family history of pancreatic cancer
Family history of other cancers
Diabetes
Pancreatitis (chronic and hereditary)
Smoking
Obesity
Race (ethnicity)
Age
Diet

Evidence: Research studies have identified the above as risk factors that may increase the likelihood that someone will develop pancreatic cancer.

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