Angelina Jolie has put BRCA gene mutations on the red carpet. But changes in this gene play a role in more than breast and ovarian cancers. Faulty BRCA 1 and 2 proteins can also be involved in pancreatic and prostate cancer.

Right now, there’s no easy way to find pancreatic cancer in its early stages. A new test being studied may change that and the way this disease is treated.

Gemzar (gemcitabine) is the standard of care for pancreatic cancer. Results from a trial showed that adding another medication worked even better.

A medication that’s used to treat a number of cancers in Japan could help people with pancreatic cancer live longer. The medication has been found to be most beneficial for Asian patients.

Dr. Feelgood guitarist and “Game of Thrones” actor, Wilko Johnson, has been diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. The actor has refused chemotherapy and plans to continue to work for the next few months.

When anything in the body goes into overdrive, trouble usually follows. Genes that are switched to and stay “on” all the time can lead to cancer. A molecular pathway that behaves this way may be a new target for a tough cancer.

How and why pancreatic cancer develops has never been clearly understood. New clues are emerging, though, that could help diagnose and treat this cancer.

Trying to predict who’s at risk for cancer is a key research goal. Scientists look at all sorts of things to do this. Science is making progress in predicting pancreatic cancer risk.

The theory was solid but, as is so often the case – unfortunately – the experimental drug just didn’t deliver. A phase II trial showed that a new type of chemotherapy wasn’t effective against pancreatic cancer.

The outlook for people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer has just brightened a little. Scientists have made a giant leap forward in understanding the background operations of this cancer.