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Which organs can pancreatic cancer spread to in stage IV?
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pancreatic cancer
The human pancreas is composed of two main types of tissue: acinar cells and islets of Langerhans. The acinar cells produce digestive enzymes, which are secreted into tiny ducts that feed into the pancreatic duct. Islets of Langerhans are clusters of cells that secrete hormones such as insulin and glucagon directly into a capillary network, which also joins the pancreatic duct.
In stage IV pancreatic cancer, the disease has progressed to the point where it has spread to distant sites in the body. At this stage, the cancer may metastasize to several other organs, including the:
The spread of cancer to these distant sites is known as metastasis, a process where malignant cells detach from the primary tumor, enter the circulatory or lymphatic systems, and establish secondary tumors in other tissues. Because symptoms of pancreatic cancer often remain subtle until the disease has reached these advanced stages, the prognosis for stage IV patients is generally poor.21