Pancreatic cancer sees lowest improvement in cancer survival
pharmafile | November 23, 2011 | News story | Medical Communications, Research and Development | Cancer, Macmillan, pancreatic
A new cancer survival study shows that pancreatic cancer continues to have one of the worst mortality rates.
The study by the Macmillan cancer charity shows a major improvement in cancer survival for most cancers over the past 40 years.
However, there has been no improvement for pancreatic cancer, which remains the worst performing cancer with a median survival rate at under six months.
In data published by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, analysis of 20 cancers in the UK was carried out to determine median survival rates from the early 1970s to 2007.
Median survival is calculated as the time it takes until half of those diagnosed have died.
Six cancers now have median survival times of more than ten years, and some cancers such as colon cancer and non-Hodgkins Lymphoma have seen dramatic improvements (see table below).
No improvement for pancreatic cancer
The low median survival for pancreatic cancer is reflected in the one and five-year survival rates for this disease, which stand at 17% and only 3% respectively in the UK.
Low one-year pancreatic cancer survival rates in particular are indicative of later-stage disease at diagnosis, borne out by the fact that only 10% of patients are diagnosed in time for surgery, currently the only potential for a cure.
There are currently no targeted cancer medicines for pancreatic cancer, with chemotherapy drugs – such as Lilly’s Gemzar or Roche’s Xeloda – currently the only drug option for advanced forms of the disease.
Pancreatic cancer is the fifth biggest cancer killer in the UK, but Pancreatic Cancer Action says it has been underfunded for decades and currently receives just 1% of total cancer research funding.
The charity says as well as increasing the amount of investment into the disease, the focus needs to be on earlier diagnosis so more people can be diagnosed in time for surgery.
Ali Stunt, Founder and chief executive of Pancreatic Cancer Action said: “Again we are seeing major improvements in survival for the majority of cancers in the UK which is fantastic news for patients.
“Sadly the same cannot be said for pancreatic cancer patients who are still facing a disease with the lowest survival rates in the UK. The fact that these have not improved in over forty years is frankly, appalling.”
She added: “The Department of Health claimed that: ‘it is giving high priority to cancers where survival rates have not improved’. Unfortunately we’re not seeing evidence of that for pancreatic cancer. There needs to be a greater focus on pancreatic cancer in terms of awareness, early diagnosis and funding. It’s time for change.”
Median survival time (years) since diagnosis by period of diagnosis and cancer type:
|
Cancers |
1971-72 |
1980-81 |
1990-91 |
2000-01 |
2007 |
|
All cancers |
1 |
1.5 |
2.1 |
4.3 |
5.8 |
|
Bladder* |
2.4 |
|
10 |
9.8 |
9 |
|
Brain |
0.3 |
0.3 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
0.5 |
|
Breast (female) |
5.5 |
9.6 |
|
|
|
|
Cervix |
7.7 |
|
|
|
|
|
Colon |
0.6 |
1.3 |
2.3 |
4.8 |
10 |
|
Hodgkin’s |
9.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
Kidney |
0.8 |
1.1 |
1.6 |
4 |
5.3 |
|
Larynx (male) |
10 |
|
|
|
|
|
Leukaemia |
0.3 |
0.8 |
1.8 |
2.8 |
3 |
|
Lung |
0.2 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
|
Melanoma |
9 |
|
|
|
|
|
Myeloma |
0.4 |
0.9 |
1.6 |
2.1 |
2.5 |
|
Non Hodgkin’s |
1 |
1.9 |
3.4 |
6.3 |
10 |
|
Oesophagus |
0.2 |
0.3 |
0.4 |
0.6 |
0.7 |
|
Others |
1.4 |
1.3 |
1.3 |
1.8 |
2.1 |
|
Ovary |
0.7 |
1 |
1.4 |
2.4 |
3.1 |
|
Pancreas |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.3 |
0.2 |
|
Prostate* |
2.2 |
3.5 |
4 |
|
|
|
Rectum |
1.3 |
1.8 |
2.5 |
6.3 |
8.8 |
|
Stomach |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.3 |
0.5 |
0.7 |
|
Testes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Uterus |
|
|
|
|
|
Shading indicates where no data are available as median survival time is greater than 10 years. Data are for adults aged 15-99 diagnosed in England and Wales.
*Prostate and bladder cancer: Trends for prostate cancer should be of the PSA testing and subsequent increase in incidence of low stage tumours. Trends in bladder cancer should be treated with caution due changing coding practices in the late 1990s.
Ben Adams
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