About the Registry
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We are excited to announce the establishment of the Jefferson Pancreas Tumor Registry (JPTR) at Thomas Jefferson University. According to Charles J. Yeo, MD, Chair of the Department of Surgery and Principal Investigator of the JPTR, “The purpose of the registry is to further study
whether pancreas cancer occurs more frequently in families with a history of the disease, and to determine the environmental
and occupational risk factors to which pancreas cancer patients have been exposed.”
Research has shown that certain rare genetic conditions are associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer, including
familial breast-ovarian cancer, familial melanoma, familial colon cancer, hereditary pancreatitis, and Peutz-Jegher’s syndrome.
While we have not yet identified a causative gene to allow predictive testing for pancreatic cancer, we can offer risk assessments
and possibly surveillance with endoscopic ultrasound for patients with a strong family history of pancreatic cancer.
Such high risk patients may be referred to Jefferson gastroenterologists such as Thomas Kowalski, MD and David Loren, MD to discuss the pros and cons of invasive surveillance. The goal is to diagnose pancreatic cancer early when it is easier
to treat. If the patient does develop pancreatic cancer, Jefferson physicians may use the results of genetic testing to select
the most effective therapy. Targeted therapy for pancreas cancer is becoming a reality in part due to recent discoveries made
in the laboratory of Jonathan Brody, PhD, Assistant Professor of Surgery, where molecular studies have clearly indicated survival advantages with the use of targeted
chemotherapy treatment.
