Types of Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancers are classified according to the type of pancreas cell in which the cancer began.

Exocrine cells in the pancreas produce enzymes to digest the food you eat. Most pancreas cancers — 90% of them — arise from the exocrine cells located in the ducts of the pancreas. These pancreas cancer types include:

  • Ductal Adenocarcinoma. This most common type of pancreatic cancer begins in glandular (secretory) cells. Glandular cells are found in tissue that lines certain internal organs and makes and releases substances in the body, such as mucus, digestive juices, or other fluids. Most cancers of the breast, pancreas, lung, prostate, and colon are adenocarcinomas.
  • Acinar Cell Carcinoma: a rare malignant exocrine tumor, 
  • Adenosquamous carcinoma: a type of cancer that contains two types of cells: squamous cells (thin, flat cells that line certain organs) and gland-like cells.
  • Colloid Carcinoma: a tumor type in which extracellular mucin comprises at least 80 percent of the tumor volume.
  • Undifferentiated carcinoma

Endocrine cells produce hormones that regulate blood sugar (such as insulin). Cancer that begins in the exocrine cells are called neuroendocrine pancreatic cancer or islet cell cancer. These pancreatic cancer types include:

  • Gastrinoma is a neuroendocrine tumor that causes an overproduction of gastric acid. This tumor may may metastasize to the liver and the lymph nodes.
  • Insulinomas are slow-growing tumors that begin in the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas.
  • VIPoma a rare type of cancer that usually grows from cells in the pancreas called islet cells.
  • Somatostatinoma is a tumor of the delta cells of the pancreas that produces somatostatin — usually associated with diabetes mellitus and abnormal glucose tolerance.

Other pancreatic diseases

Roswell Park’s pancreas experts also manage pre-cancerous and non-malignant pancreas conditions. Expert diagnosis and treatment of these conditions is essential to prevent potential cancer and avoid unnecessary surgery. These conditions include:

  • Intraductal Papillary-Mucinous Neoplasms: cystic tumors of the pancreas, created from the discharge of a thick fluid called mucin.
  • Mucinous Cystic Neoplasms: precancerous cysts that commonly begin in the body and tail of the pancreas. 
  • Serous Cystadenomas: a benign tumor, usually found in the tail of the pancreas.
  • Solid Pseudopapillary Tumors: a rare benign or low-grade malignant epithelial tumor, most commonly found in young adults assigned female at birth.

Pancreatic staging