Pancreatic Cancer

By

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

My thanks go out to all who have helped me complete this study and with whom this project may have not been possible. In particular, my gratitude goes out to friends, facilitator and family for extensive and helpful comments on early drafts. I am also deeply indebted to the authors who have shared my interest and preceded me. Their works provided me with a host of information to learn from and build upon, also served as examples to emulate.

DECLARATION

I, (Your name), would like to declare that all contents included in this thesis/dissertation stand for my individual work without any aid, & this thesis/dissertation has not been submitted for any examination at academic as well as professional level previously. It is also representing my very own views & not essentially which are associated with university.

Signature: _______________________________

Date: __________________________

ABSTRACT

The research study is based on the pancreatic cancer that is considered to be the fourth most dangerous disease in the world. Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most difficult forms of cancer to treat. In 2010, it is estimated that 43,140 new cases and 36,800 deaths in the United States will be caused by this cancer. Pancreatic cancer leaves only 3-6% 5-year survival rate to the patients, and this situation has not been changed since 1975. Only 10-15% of patients present with a potentially removable tumor, and many of them experience recurrence after surgery. For the majority of patients with locally advanced or metastasis pancreatic cancer their median survival time is 3-10 months. The exact mechanism of the risk factors for pancreatic cancer is still unclear. Factors, such as smoking, chronic and hereditary pancreatitis, late-onset diabetes mellitus and family history were used to indicate a relative higher risk of pancreatic cancer for an individual. The vast majority of pancreatic cancer is the exocrine type which means the cancer resembles the exocrine pancreas where digestive pancreatic juices are produced. Pancreatic cancer is currently one of the most virulent of cancers in which malignant cells arise in pancreas. In the United States, the incidence of pancreatic cancer has increased. About 37,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer were diagnosed in the year 2007. The incidence of this deadly cancer is strongly age-dependent in both sexes, slightly higher in males than females. Pancreatic cancer ranks the fourth leading cause of cancer-related mortality among men and women, and kills more than 250,000 people each year worldwide. Only small portion of patients with pancreatic cancer are candidates for surgical resection. Despite the observed progress in cancer treatment, pancreatic cancer therapy remains relatively disappointing and challenging to oncologists due to lack of effective systemic anti-neoplastic therapies and dismal outcomes.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTII

DECLARATIONIII

ABSTRACTIV

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

Background of the Research Study1

Problem Statement2

Aims of the Research Study2

Objectives of the Research Study3

Purpose of the Research Study3

Rationale of the Research Study4

Significance of the Study4

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW6

Theoretical Framework6

Introduction to Biology of Cancers7

Pancreatic Cancer7

Causes of Pancreatic Cancer9

Treatments of Pancreatic Cancer11

Association between pancreatic cancer and hormonal intake14

Cohort studies14

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY17

Data Collection17

Scientific Research17

Materials and Methods18

Serum and plasma samples18

Antibodies and Lectins18

Microarray fabrication18

Microarray ...