Advancements in Therapeutic Strategies for Pancreatic Cancer: Challenges and Opportunities

Pancreatic malignant tumors, including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer, represent a significant challenge within digestive tumor pathology due to their late-stage diagnosis and often unresectable nature. The grim 5-year survival rate of only 12% across all stages underlines an urgent need for advancements, particularly in the realm of early diagnostic biomarkers. Primary treatment traditionally involves surgery, contingent on the tumor’s localization and spread. While robotic-assisted and laparoscopic surgeries present potential options, their applicability, particularly in procedures like the Whipple procedure, remains a subject of debate. Current mainstays include chemotherapy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, despite immunotherapy’s promising potential in other solid tumors, its benefits in this context require further exploration.

This Research Topic aims to delve into advancements in immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy to improve treatment outcomes for pancreatic cancer. It emphasizes the curative potential of surgery in treating pancreatic cancer and related diseases, questioning the superiority between laparotomy and minimally invasive surgeries such as laparoscopy. Dissecting the complexities of these surgical approaches is crucial to enhance therapeutic efficacy and the patient’s quality of life.

To improve comprehension of developmental variations associated with neurovascular diseases, this Research Topic encompasses a comprehensive range of themes. We welcome Case Report, Clinical Trial, Methods, Mini Review, Original Research, Perspective, Review, Study Protocol, and Systematic Review that address topics including but not limited to:
● Discussion about laparoscopic surgery and laparotomy. Advantage and disadvantage in minimally invasive surgery
● Diagnosis and treatments for pancreatic cancer
● Immunotherapy and chemotherapy in pancreatic cancer
● Diagnostic biomarkers in pancreatic cancer