What are the abnormalities in blood indicators for pancreatic cancer?

Written by Cui Fang Bo

Oncology

Updated on March 17, 2025

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Blood markers for pancreatic cancer often show multiple abnormalities. Pancreatic cancer itself can lead to an increase in related tumor markers. The two most common markers are carcinoembryonic antigen and carbohydrate antigen 19-9, especially carbohydrate antigen 19-9, which has a certain specificity. If pancreatic cancer progresses further, leading to compression of the biliary system, corresponding jaundice indicators can increase. This includes an increase in total bilirubin and direct bilirubin, as well as alkaline phosphatase and gamma-GTP. The most common metastasis site for pancreatic cancer is the liver, and after liver metastasis occurs, corresponding liver transaminases can increase.

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Is a pancreatic tumor the same as pancreatic cancer?

Pancreatic tumors include benign and malignant tumors of the pancreas. Common benign pancreatic tumors include insulinomas, which can cause hypoglycemia due to excessive insulin secretion. Other benign tumors of the pancreas include adenomas, lipomas, and fibromas, which are relatively rare clinically. Malignant tumors of the pancreas are commonly referred to as pancreatic cancer, which has a high degree of malignancy. Early-stage pancreatic cancer patients are primarily treated with surgery.

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Dietary Taboos for Patients with Pancreatic Cancer

Regarding the dietary restrictions for pancreatic cancer patients, there are no specific prohibitions. The main recommendation is to avoid what we typically refer to as junk food, such as barbecued foods and pickled products. Aside from avoiding these foods, it is important to focus on a nutritious and balanced diet, with a good mix of both meat and vegetables. Additionally, because pancreatic cancer patients may experience symptoms like abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and a feeling of fullness or discomfort in the upper abdomen, the diet should primarily consist of light and easily digestible foods. In doing so, while ensuring that the patient receives sufficient nutrition, it is best to consume foods that are easy to digest and nutritionally balanced.

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What to do about pancreatic cancer pain?

Pancreatic cancer pain is common in clinical practice, with some patients presenting with abdominal pain as their initial symptom. Pain management can be symptomatic, using analgesics for relief. For mild pain, tramadol can be chosen for pain relief. For severe pain, opioid analgesics such as morphine sustained-release tablets, oxycodone sustained-release tablets, or morphine tablets can be used for pain relief. These are merely symptomatic treatments. The fundamental approach involves surgical or oncological treatments like chemotherapy or radiotherapy to treat pancreatic cancer. Only when the tumor is controlled will the symptoms of pain be alleviated.

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Written by Sun Ming Yue

Medical Oncology

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Classification of the Malignancy of Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer can also be described as a malignant tumor occurring in the pancreas, generally with a high malignancy level, resulting in a higher probability of patient death. To understand the classification of pancreatic cancer, it can be categorized based on the location of occurrence within the pancreas and the pathological type. Based on the location of occurrence, pancreatic cancer can generally be divided into cancers of the pancreatic head, body, tail, and entire pancreas. According to the pathological types of pancreatic cancer, it can be classified into ductal adenocarcinoma, and also some special types of ductal-origin cancers, which generally include pleomorphic carcinoma, mucinous carcinoma, adenosquamous carcinoma, mucinous cystadenocarcinoma, and signet ring cell carcinoma, among others.

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Oncology

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How is pancreatic cancer diagnosed?

The most common symptoms of pancreatic cancer are pain in the upper abdomen and jaundice. During physical examination, a mass in the upper abdomen can be felt, which is a common symptom. When these symptoms appear, further abdominal ultrasound or CT scans should be performed, as these two are the most commonly used imaging methods for diagnosing pancreatic cancer. Additionally, pancreatic MRI or PET-CT can also help enhance the diagnostic accuracy for pancreatic cancer. MRCP and ERCP are also used to assess the bile ducts and to evaluate the feasibility of surgery. Blood tests for pancreatic cancer-related tumor markers, such as carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and CA19-9, are commonly performed, with CA19-9 being particularly sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.