This timely publication brings to the forefront the most recent advances in understanding pancreatic cancer development and successfully treating this dreadful disease. The volume provides information on the recent progress and improvements to date, including developments in molecular events, landmark clinical trials, the first mouse models, and targeted biologic therapies. Since the previous M. D. Anderson Solid Tumor Oncology Series publication on pancreatic cancer, there have been major advances in our understanding of molecular events which underlie pancreatic cancer development, both in the sporadic and inherited forms. We have seen the development of the first mouse models that accurately recapitulate features of the human disease. Several landmark clinical trials in both resectable and metastatic pancreatic cancer have been completed, raising new questions about the standard of care in this disease. Therefore, it is an appropriate time to review these important advances and outline areas of controversy and question in pancreatic cancer biology and treatment.