The authors of this article discuss the most common form of pancreatic cancer, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, under the following headings:

• Epidemiology
• Pathophysiology
• Screening to detect curable precursor lesions
• Clinical presentation
• Diagnosis and staging
• Principles of management
• Surgery
• Pathological findings after surgery
• Adjuvant and neoadjuvant treatment
• Management of borderline resectable disease
• Management of advanced disease
• Measurement of tumour response
• Investigational treatments for advanced pancreatic cancer
• Supportive care