Cancer Research UK and an international team of scientists have concluded that there are four distinct types of pancreatic cancer; information that could help improve treatment for the disease.

The discovery means that, in future, personalised pancreatic cancer treatment could be prescribed to patients based on the specific type of cancer and a patient’s DNA arrangements. This development could potentially offer a portion of patients a much better rate of survival. The research could also lead to new treatments for other forms of the disease and improve cancer diagnosis.

According to Cancer Research UK, only 1% of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer are predicted to survive the disease for ten years or more.

Madeleine Pinschof, a senior clinical negligence solicitor based in Thompsons Solicitors’ Bristol office, said: “Pancreatic cancer is notoriously difficult to diagnose and treat, so these latest findings are very encouraging.

“Appropriate treatment and early diagnosis of any type of cancer are integral to the prognosis of a patient, and having a better understanding of the specifics of pancreatic cancer could go a long way in ensuring patients receive the most suitable treatment for the disease.

“We hope this research helps to improve methods of treating and diagnosing patients at the earliest possible opportunity and helps to increase pancreatic cancer survival rates.”