With a mission to improve the cure rates of one of the most aggressive cancers, the Duke Cancer Institute (DCI) Pancreatic Cancer Program is building a legacy of hope, innovation, and improved outcomes. “Our surgical team performs over 200 pancreatic resections a year with exceptional surgical outcomes,” says Daniel P. Nussbaum, MD, surgical oncologist. “But improving cure rates for pancreatic cancer requires more than the standard approaches available at most institutions. It takes an integrated team that is dedicated to working together so that we can offer innovative, personalized treatment options.”
Nussbaum says that the team’s goal is to expand treatment options for patients with pancreatic cancer, typically through clinical trials and collaborative protocols. “We offer novel therapies unavailable at other centers in the Southeast and most of the country. We also rigorously test whether these therapies improve outcomes so what proves most beneficial becomes part of standard practice and available to all patients.”
The Pancreatic Cancer Program team is committed to caring for patients in the local community and at a distance. For patients living farther away, the team can collaborate with patients’ local care teams to provide second opinions, treatment planning support, and clinical trial guidance to meet patients’ needs and optimize comfort.
For patient referrals, call the referring provider team Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at 866-385-3123 (1-866-DUKE-123) or email OncologyReferral@Duke.edu.
Multidisciplinary approach to care
DCI’s multidisciplinary pancreatic cancer team includes surgeons, medical oncologists, gastroenterologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, interventional radiologists, and exceptional inpatient and outpatient nurses and advanced practice providers.
“Currently, about 90% of patients who have surgery to remove localized pancreatic cancer will face recurrence at some point, many within just a few years of their initial treatment,” says Nussbaum. "While we plan each patient’s treatment with a hope for a cure, this disease requires a dedicated team thinking ahead about how to prevent or delay recurrence, and to have treatment options available to offer when it does.”
When detected at an early stage, pancreatic cancer treatment typically involves surgical resection combined with chemotherapy. Subspecialist support is also required to manage potential gastrointestinal and metabolic issues that can arise during treatment and recovery.
“One of the best things about Duke is that we provide the highest level of multidisciplinary care to patients — we have everything we need to provide top-notch care for pancreatic cancer and other complex gastrointestinal cancers,” says Niharika B. Mettu, MD, PhD, gastrointestinal medical oncologist. Some patients travel to Duke for complex care planning. In that case, traditional systemic therapy can often be arranged in the city where they reside. Duke providers then communicate regularly with the patient’s local medical oncologist to ensure the entire team remains engaged in the patient’s care.
“Our nurses and advanced practice providers have extensive expertise in minimizing adverse effects from treatment and maximizing patient comfort. With their exceptional experience, our team recognizes and triages small issues appropriately, preventing them from becoming bigger problems,” says Nussbaum.
“We also have close relationships with our dieticians, medical family therapists, social workers, psychiatrists, and palliative care team to ensure every patient has the ancillary care they need,” says Mettu.