A Study on the Regional Characteristics and Predisposing Factors of Pancreatic Cancer in Japan: Latest Situation

Abstract

Japan has become a hyper-aged society: 29.1 % of its roughly 120 million citizens are 65 or older, and this group carries the heaviest burden of pancreatic cancer. Because the gland lies deep in the retroperitoneum, tumours escape notice until the disease is advanced and surgery is seldom curative. Even when resection is possible, the operation ranks among the most demanding in oncology, so overall survival remains low. Registry files show that incidence and mortality differ markedly among the 47 prefectures, with Aomori City occupied the undesirable top position for 19 consecutive years, echoing local lifestyles and environmental exposures. Drawing on nationwide surveys led by the National Cancer Center, peer-reviewed studies, government vital statistics and the cancer figures released in 2025, this review maps Japan's current pancreatic-cancer landscape and shares the data with the wider research community. Such exchange may allow other populations to adapt Japanese insights, including sharper clinical networks, steady research funding, and health policy, thereby promoting global control of pancreatic cancer.