Pancreatic surveillance

Pancreatic surveillance is to establish and support processes in which people at a high risk of developing pancreatic cancer are enrolled into the EUROPAC study and plan for a future surveillance pathway within north east London.

Around 10% of pancreatic cancer cases are linked to inherited factors and occur in families with a history of either pancreatic cancer, hereditary pancreatitis, or who carry an at-risk genetic mutation.

NICE guidance (NG85) recommends surveillance for people with this inherited high risk to detect pancreatic cancer earlier.

EUROPAC’s aim is to develop early detection methods for pancreatic cancer. The registry will collect family histories of eligible individuals as well as samples for research purposes, and offer surveillance to those who take part to help better understand risk.

NHS England is working with EUROPAC to provide a referral route from the NHS into the EUROPAC national surveillance program for people at high risk of pancreatic cancer.

Across England there are six regional navigators who will help facilitate referrals into surveillance. They are currently taking referrals from pancreatic cancer MDTs; genetic services; and general practitioners.

Anyone who feels they may be eligible can get in touch with EUROPAC. Contact details and more information about the project are available at: https://www.europactrial.com

More information

For advice and resources for healthcare professionals on early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, visit our webpage.

More details on EUROPAC is here: https://www.nelcanceralliance.nhs.uk/europac