What cells are involved in pancreatic cancer?
In cancer, cells begin to grow out of control, forming tumors, and behaving differently than they normally should. For instance, cells that normally stay in one place may begin moving out of areas in the body or organ where they should remain and colonizing other areas of the body as they divide, forming secondary tumors (known as metastases). In the pancreas, islet cells can become cancerous and form what is known as an endocrinal tumor. This form of pancreatic cancer is rare. The vast majority of pancreatic cancer cases occur when the cells that line the pancreatic ducts begin growing out of control. This type of tumor is known as an exocrinal tumor, or adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. How is pancreatic cancer detected? Pancreatic cancer tends to be very aggressive and spreads rapidly over a relatively short period. Early diagnosis and time to appropriate treatment is crucial to the clinical outcome of the pancreatic cancer patient. The progress of pancreatic cancer can be roughly bro
