Document Type

Plan B - Open Access

Award Date

2023

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Biology and Microbiology

First Advisor

Greg Heiberger

Abstract

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most frequently mutated (95%) 5exocrine pancreatic cancers. Patients with PDAC are also the least likely to survive more than 5 years with only 8% overall survivability. The median survival for patients with distant metastasis is less than one year. Most pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma occurs in the pancreatic head, and the remainder can be found within the body (5% to 15%) or tail (10% to 15%) (14). This extremely aggressive cancer has an increasingly large metastatic dissemination rate to surrounding organs such as the liver, lung, and peritoneum, or can be seen as distant metastases in the brain and bone. These widespread and fatal metastases account for 70% of PDAC cancer related deaths due to end stage diagnosis or dissemination early on in the disease that has spread to other sites.

Publisher

South Dakota State University

Rights

© 2023 Melissa J Moisan

Share

COinS