What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to compare the clinicopathologic features of early-onset vs. late-onset pancreatic cancer to identify differences.

May 30, 2026

Clinicopathologic differences in early- vs. late-onset pancreatic cancer: A retrospective cohort study.

Key Points

The aim is to compare the clinicopathologic features of early-onset vs. late-onset pancreatic cancer to identify differences.
Single-center retrospective cohort study on 216 patients with pancreatic cancer from 2002 to 2022.
Patients classified as early-onset pancreatic cancer (<50 years, n=37) or late-onset (≥50 years, n=179).
Analyzed variables included demographics, tumor characteristics, and medical history using various statistical methods.
EOPC patients were more likely to be male (73.0% vs 47.5%, p=0.009).
87.5% of EOPC patients presented at advanced stages (III–IV) compared to 69.6% of LOPC (p=0.041).
Trends were observed for higher BMI and a greater prevalence of pancreatitis history in EOPC, but were not statistically significant.

Abstract

e16397 Background: Pancreatic cancer diagnosed in patients younger than 50 years has become increasingly common over the past two decades. In the United States, early-onset pancreatic cancer (EOPC) increased from approximately 1.1 to 1.4 per 100,000 between 2013 and 2022, with similar rising trends reported internationally, particularly in high-income countries compared to late-onset pancreatic cancer (LOPC). With this notable increase in incidence, characterizing EOPC is essential to improving diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. This study focuses on comparing clinicopathologic features of EOPC and LOPC to help identify distinguishing traits with potential clinical implications. Methods: This study was a single-center retrospective cohort study on patients with pancreatic cancer between 2002 and 2022 (n = 216). A study protocol was developed prior to analysis and approved by the institutional review board. Patients were classified as EOPC ( 0.05). Conclusions: Based on this study, EOPC was associated with males and more advanced stage at presentation. Other clinicopathologic features were largely similar between age groups, with non-significant trends toward higher BMI and greater prevalence of personal history of pancreatitis in EOPC. These findings suggest EOPC patients may represent a clinically different subgroup compared to LOPC and support the need for further studies to investigate the biological drivers of EOPC and refine risk-based screening and management for younger populations.

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