Pancreatic cancer is still one of the most dreadful malignancies with 5-year survival of 5%. The lack of effective diagnostic tools for early detection of pancreatic cancer is the major factor for the poor prognosis of pancreatic cancer. Considering the relatively lower incidence of pancreatic cancer, it seems to be reasonable to find and investigate the high risk group of pancreatic cancer rather than to screen general population. During the last 2 decades, several epidemiologic and genetic high risk groups of pancreatic cancer were found. Especially, western countries including US have been taking care of genetic high risk group and reported several meaningful outcomes. With advances of understanding molecular carcinogenesis and progression of pancreatic cancer, the effort to find specific biomarkers for both detection and treatment of pancreatic cancer has been overwhelmed. Various types of biomarkers including protein, microRNA, exosomes or circulating tumor cells itself have been under investigations. Although there has been no single biomarker which can overcome CA19-9 in serum to date. It will be worthwhile to wait for more potent biomarker which can be used for early diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer in near future.

• 방승민(연세대학교 의과대학 내과학교실 소화기내과) | Seungmin Bang Corresponding author