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UT Southwestern’s Pancreatic Cancer Prevention Program provides a comprehensive range of personalized treatment options that are based on what’s best for each patient.
Surveillance and Monitoring
Early detection and treatment are critical in identifying precancerous changes or pancreatic cancer. Through ongoing surveillance, our Pancreatic Cancer Prevention team reviews each patient’s results, watching for any concerning changes that might require intervention. This dedicated, long-term approach to monitoring is unique in North Texas. It helps ensure patients receive the highest level of proactive care.
For pancreatic cysts classified as mucinous, our team carefully assesses various factors to determine the risk of them becoming cancerous. This includes ongoing monitoring with specialized imaging studies to track if the cysts grow or develop changes that may indicate progression.
In general, we also recommend surveillance for people with a family history of pancreatic cancer or who have a genetic abnormality found in testing that increases their risk. This is often in collaboration with our UTSW Cancer Genetics team.
Endoscopy
Endoscopic interventions are an important tool used by our UTSW Pancreatic Cancer Prevention team to manage care for patients. This procedure involves using endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), which allows doctors to get detailed images of the pancreas and surrounding areas.
A thin, flexible tube with a small ultrasound device is gently passed through the patient’s mouth and into the digestive tract. The doctor is then able to see the pancreas up close and check for abnormalities, including cysts or tissue changes that might not be visible with other imaging tests.
If needed, a fluid sample (biopsy) from the pancreatic cysts will be collected during the procedure and then sent for evaluation. UTSW uses an advanced molecular test called PancreaSeq, developed by the University of Pittsburgh. It involves next-generation sequencing to analyze genetic changes in the sample, helping assess a patient’s risk of developing pancreatic cancer and guide the best course of care.
Another endoscopic intervention our team uses is endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). This minimally invasive procedure allows our doctors to examine the pancreas and bile ducts in detail to help diagnose abnormalities, relieve blockages, and collect fluids for additional testing when needed. It combines endoscopy and X-ray imaging to provide crucial information that helps guide treatment and support advanced care for patients.
Genetic Testing
When a patient is at a high risk for pancreatic cancer because of a family history of the disease or known genetic risk factors (such as a BRCA2 mutation), our UTSW cancer genetic experts are available to provide surveillance recommendations as well as specialized genetic testing if needed.
Surgery to Prevent Pancreatic Cancer
For some patients at a very high risk of developing pancreatic cancer, surgery is the most appropriate option to prevent the disease. For example, if a recently diagnosed mucinous pancreatic cyst shows concerning features or we detect changes during ongoing surveillance, we may recommend surgery. The goal is to perform pancreatic surgery proactively, before a lesion has a chance to develop into cancer.