Types of Pancreatic Cancer 

All types of pancreatic cancer begin when abnormal cells grow out of control within the pancreas. There are two types of cells in the pancreas, the exocrine cells and endocrine cells. These cells also have different functions.

More than 95% of pancreatic cancers are classified as exocrine tumors. These tumors start in the exocrine cells that make pancreatic enzymes that help in digestion. Within this category, the vast majority of tumors are adenocarcinomas. The following table describes the different types of pancreatic exocrine tumors. Click here to learn about types of exocrine tumors in the pancreas.

Accounting for less than 5% of all pancreatic tumors are neuroendocrine tumors, also called endocrine or islet cell tumors. Islet cells are the endocrine cells in the pancreas that produce and secrete the hormones insulin, glucagon and somatostatin into the bloodstream. Insulin and glucagon are the two main pancreatic hormones. Insulin lowers blood sugar levels while glucagon raises blood sugar levels. Together, these two main hormones work to maintain the proper level of sugar in the blood. Somatostatin regulates the levels of a variety of other hormones in the blood.

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors may be benign or malignant and they tend to grow slower than exocrine tumors. Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors are either functional (produce hormones) or nonfunctional (produce no hormones). Most functional neuroendocrine tumors are benign. However, 90% of nonfunctional neuroendocrine tumors are cancerous.  Click here to learn about types of endocrine tumors in the pancreas.

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