Building a pancreatic cancer family history database

The National Familial Pancreas Tumor Registry is a long-running study that has been collecting information from pancreatic cancer patients and their families since 1994. Researchers want to understand both genetic and non-genetic reasons why pancreatic cancer develops, and especially why it sometimes clusters in certain families. By joining this registry, you help scientists identify genes and other factors that may explain familial pancreatic cancer.

About one in ten pancreatic cancer patients has a close relative who also had the disease, but we don't fully understand why. Researchers have already discovered that mutations in certain genes like PALB2 and ATM account for some of this familial clustering, but there's much more to learn. This registry exists to find additional genes and factors that could help predict risk and improve prevention and treatment strategies for families affected by pancreatic cancer.