Reviewer Katy Keffer Interviews Earl Campazzi, Author of Living with Pancreatic Cancer: A Patient and Family Guide

For all the hullabaloo, one simple fact about artificial intelligence should hold your attention: AI may save your life.

We learn as much in today’s interview where Dr. Earl Campazzi talks about the many ways AI is already being used in healthcare—from designing new chemotherapies to dramatically cutting drug-screening times to predicting novel drug combinations based on specific genetic profiles. As a leading pancreatic cancer specialist, Dr. Campazzi is at the forefront of these exciting “personalized medicine” efforts—think MY AI—and believes “AI might just be the key to unlocking breakthroughs we’ve long hoped for.”

Dr. Campazzi’s Living with Pancreatic Cancer recently earned a highly complimentary Foreword Clarion review from Katy Keffer. This reviewer-author interview provided us the perfect opportunity to learn more about cutting-edge cancer treatment, AI’s continuing influence on healthcare, and the good doctor’s book and work.

Thank you for this highly informative and caring pancreatic cancer guide for patients and their loved ones. Can you share more about your background and what drew you to write this book?

The first version of my book, Just Diagnosed with Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer: First Steps and More, was inspired by a remarkable patient who gave me permission to share her story: Suzanne Wright. She was an extraordinary person and a lifelong friend of my wife’s parents. Suzanne co-founded Autism Speaks with her husband, Bob Wright, former chairman and CEO of NBC. She had traveled the world with Bob and devoted her heart, resources, and network to supporting her grandson who was diagnosed with autism. At a time when little was known about autism, Autism Speaks helped change that landscape.

The passion and dedication that Suzanne had shown throughout her life returned to her when she received her pancreatic cancer diagnosis. As her primary care physician, I became her medical manager. People from around the world offered not just their well-wishes but whatever assistance they could provide. On the West Coast, scientists sequenced her entire genome and her tumor’s genome, with the results sent to Google for analysis. Cold Spring Harbor Labs grew her cells in culture, and Scripps tested these against a wide panel of medications.

It was an intense coordination effort between scientists and her oncologists in New York. They had never before experienced a Florida doctor flying in to accompany a mutual patient to appointments. Despite all these efforts, the timing proved challenging. It took several months to cultivate cells and receive results from various institutions. When the results finally arrived, they provided little practical benefit—merely confirming that a chemotherapy treatment that hadn’t helped Suzanne would indeed be ineffective. We needed that information four months earlier. Even Google, with its tremendous computing power, could add little insight to the genetic results.

I wrote this book after Suzanne’s passing, looking backward at what we learned, forward to what might help others, and always in her memory.

You emphasize the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) to better tailor treatment for each person, which you noted as “personalized medicine.” Interestingly, a recent article highlighted new endeavors with AI to treat Parkinson’s disease by enhancing deep brain stimulation. Can you expand more on how AI could help pancreatic cancer patients? Have you seen any advances in the time since you wrote this most recent edition of your book?

There are two fundamental categories for improvement within pancreatic cancer treatment: maximizing each individual’s care to the best currently available, and improving research/information analysis and drug development to make much-needed advancements on the best care available.

Even simple applications of natural language AI can provide immediate value. For example, when someone asks, “My wife was just diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, what should I do?” AI provided this comprehensive answer:

“First, focus on gathering information and building a support team. Talk to her doctors—oncologists who specialize in pancreatic cancer are key. Ask about her specific type and stage of cancer, treatment options like surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation, and what the prognosis might look like. Don’t hesitate to get a second opinion from a major cancer center if you can; places like MD Anderson or Mayo Clinic often have cutting-edge expertise. Next, prioritize her care and comfort. Look into pain management options, as pancreatic cancer can be tough in that regard—palliative care specialists can help even early on, alongside treatment. Nutrition is also huge; a dietitian familiar with cancer can tailor a plan, since the pancreas affects digestion. For you, lean on people—family, friends, or a counselor. You’re her rock, but you’ll need support too. Online communities, like those on Reddit (e.g., r/cancer) or Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN), can connect you with others who get it. PanCAN also offers resources like patient advocates and clinical trial finders, which might open doors to new treatments. Emotionally, just be there for her however she needs—whether that’s talking, sitting quietly, or helping with practical stuff like bills or appointments. It’s okay to feel lost or scared; take it day by day.“

This kind of AI assistance helps patients and caregivers navigate the overwhelming early days after diagnosis when clear thinking may be difficult due to emotional stress. AI can also answer specific queries that guide patients toward optimal care pathways.

For instance, patients can ask AI about the best surgeons for the technically difficult Whipple procedure or other pancreatic surgeries—with AI highlighting that surgical outcomes often correlate strongly with surgeon experience and procedure volume. Similarly, AI can identify which major medical centers specialize in pancreatic cancer treatment, such as Memorial Sloan Kettering, Johns Hopkins, Mayo Clinic, MD Anderson, and Dana-Farber.

Regarding advancing the frontiers of treatment, AI demonstrates remarkable capability in analyzing complex, multi-dimensional datasets. It can simultaneously process patient genomes, tumor genomes (which in pancreatic cancer always differ from the patient’s normal genome), and organoid testing data to identify patterns beyond human recognition capabilities.

AI is already being utilized to design new chemotherapeutics that show greater promise in the lengthy and expensive drug development and testing process. These AI-driven approaches can potentially identify novel drug targets specific to pancreatic cancer’s unique biology and predict which combinations of existing drugs might be most effective for specific genetic profiles.

It’s only been a year since the book was published, and while pancreatic cancer treatment doesn’t transform overnight, the role of AI is sparking some intriguing developments. A full update would mean diving into a mountain of new studies—definitely a project for the next edition—but what’s unfolding is hard to ignore. AI-driven drug discovery is gaining traction; for instance, researchers are now using machine learning to sift through vast genomic and organoid data, identifying promising drug targets like never before—think novel compounds that exploit pancreatic cancer’s metabolic quirks, some already inching toward clinical trials.

On the patient side, AI tools are getting smarter too—think algorithms that match patients to high-volume surgeons for better Whipple outcomes or flag relevant trials through platforms like PanCAN’s faster than ever. Just this year, groups like Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have cut organoid drug-screening times significantly, hinting at a future where personalized treatment starts sooner. It’s not a cure—far from it—but these steps feel like real progress against a stubborn disease. I’m keeping a close eye on it, because AI might just be the key to unlocking breakthroughs we’ve long hoped for.

You stressed the article “A Top Cancer Center Could Change Your Life” as a must-read but acknowledge it is not always easy for everyone to get the best treatment. How can we overcome barriers that patients face in terms of accessibility of treatment based on type of insurance and socioeconomic status?

Once a patient and their family recognizes the value of a top cancer center, the “when there is a will, there is a way” principle often activates due to the life-or-death nature of pancreatic cancer. Much of my book focuses on demonstrating that “there is a way” through various challenges.

For insurance barriers, I provide detailed guidance on navigating coverage issues, including step-by-step approaches to appealing denials. Many patients don’t realize that initial insurance denials can often be overturned with proper documentation and persistence. The book outlines specific language and documentation strategies that have proven successful for other patients.

Financial obstacles can be addressed through multiple avenues. I cover fundraising approaches that have worked well for patients, from organized community events to online crowdfunding platforms specifically designed for medical expenses. Additionally, there are numerous pancreatic cancer-specific charities and foundations that offer financial assistance programs—some covering treatment costs while others address related expenses like transportation and lodging.

The power of networking should never be underestimated. My book encourages connecting with patient advocacy groups and survivors who have navigated similar challenges. These connections often provide invaluable practical advice and emotional support. Many experienced patients are eager to “pay it forward” by helping others access the same quality care they received.

Regarding practical logistics, the book details resources many patients aren’t aware of: free or heavily discounted hotel programs near major cancer centers, airline compassionate travel policies and mileage donation programs, and transportation assistance services. Sometimes something as simple as colleagues pooling airline miles can make the difference in a patient’s ability to reach specialized care.

I also address the importance of workplace advocacy, helping patients understand their rights under medical leave policies and how to effectively communicate with employers to maintain benefits during treatment. For those without adequate insurance, the book outlines pathways to clinical trials, which often provide access to cutting-edge treatments at reduced or no cost.

While socioeconomic barriers to top-tier care are very real, my goal in the book is to provide concrete, actionable strategies that have helped real patients overcome these obstacles. The stakes with pancreatic cancer are simply too high not to pursue every possible avenue toward optimal care.

As you stated, there are no routine medical checks to identify pancreatic cancer in individuals. However, you flagged symptoms to watch for and areas scientists are focused on—such as having lower levels of certain antibodies—to help spot cancer early. Are there any new developments in this area?

The most exciting breakthrough is in increased speed and improved image quality to allow whole body MRI scanning. Unlike whole body CT scanning, MRI does not use potentially cancer-causing radiation. As part of the whole body scan, it nicely visualizes the pancreas both for anything that looks concerning for cancer and for cysts which need to be followed as they have the potential to become cancer.

Another significant advancement is the development of liquid biopsy technology. Through amazing technology to detect trace cancer cell DNA circulating in blood, the Galleri test by Grail can detect many cancers very early, including pancreatic cancer. This multi-cancer early detection test can identify over fifty types of cancer through a simple blood draw, potentially years before symptoms appear.

Research is also advancing in biomarker identification. Scientists have identified several promising biomarkers in blood, including specific exosomes, microRNAs, and metabolites that may indicate the presence of early pancreatic cancer. While not yet in routine clinical use, these biomarkers show significant promise for future screening approaches.

Additionally, artificial intelligence algorithms are being developed to analyze imaging studies with greater accuracy than human interpretation alone. These AI systems can detect subtle changes in pancreatic tissue that might escape notice during conventional radiological review, potentially identifying cancers at earlier, more treatable stages.

For high-risk individuals—those with familial pancreatic cancer syndromes or genetic mutations like BRCA1/2—specialized surveillance programs combining endoscopic ultrasound, MRI, and biomarker testing are showing promise in detecting precancerous changes before they progress to invasive disease.

While we’re still far from having a simple, routine screening test for the general population, these developments represent significant progress toward the goal of earlier detection, which remains our best hope for improving pancreatic cancer survival rates.

You encourage patients to consider a biopsy of their cancer for an organoid to allow testing before starting treatment, but said that, as of summer 2023, scientists testing different drugs on organoids was still experimental. You also mentioned Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory was active in conducting these tests. How have things progressed in organoid testing?

I encouraged patients to consider a biopsy for creating an organoid—a 3D mini-tumor grown from their cancer cells—to test treatments before starting therapy. As of summer 2023, this approach was still experimental, and I highlighted that places like Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory were leading the charge in exploring how organoids could guide treatment decisions. Since then, there’s been some exciting progress, and I’d love to update you on where things stand as of April 2025.

Organoid testing has moved forward significantly in the last couple of years. It’s still not a standard part of care everywhere, but it’s becoming a more established tool in research and, in some cases, clinical trials. At Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, scientists have continued to refine how they use organoids to predict which drugs might work best for pancreatic cancer patients. One big leap has been speeding up the process. Back in 2023, growing and testing organoids could take weeks to months, which was a challenge given how fast pancreatic cancer can progress. Now, CSHL and other research groups have developed faster screening methods—sometimes getting results in as little as a week—making it more practical for wider use of organoids in personalized medicine.

For example, their Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Signature Stratification for Treatment (PASS-01) trial, which I mentioned in the book, has been expanding. This trial uses organoids to test two standard chemotherapy regimens, comparing how a patient’s organoids respond to how their tumor responds in real life. The goal is to confirm that organoids can reliably predict the best treatment upfront, saving precious time.

Beyond CSHL, other institutions worldwide are joining this effort. Places like Weill Cornell Medicine have been screening thousands of compounds on organoids to find new drug targets—like a cholesterol-related treatment they identified in late 2023 that’s showing promise. The idea is to use organoids not just to pick from existing treatments but to discover entirely new ones tailored to a patient’s tumor. That’s a potential game-changer in treatment paradigms.

Several major cancer centers are now incorporating organoid testing into their research protocols. MD Anderson Cancer Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering, and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have all expanded their organoid research programs, creating more opportunities for patients to benefit from this technology through clinical trials or expanded access programs.

That said, it’s still early days. As of now, organoid testing isn’t widely available outside of research settings or specific trials. The technology requires specialized labs, and there’s ongoing work to make it more reproducible and affordable. But the momentum is there. Since summer 2023, we’ve seen more studies—like one from CSHL in 2024—showing that organoid responses often match patient outcomes, boosting confidence in this approach.

For patients, this means that asking about organoid testing, especially at major cancer centers, is more worthwhile than ever. It’s not a guarantee yet, but it’s a step closer to personalized treatment that could make a real difference. Insurance coverage remains a challenge, as many companies still consider this approach investigational, but advocacy groups are working to change this as evidence mounts for its clinical utility.

So, while it’s still experimental, the progress is encouraging. I’d still recommend discussing a biopsy for organoid testing with your doctor, especially if you’re near a facility like CSHL or part of a trial. It’s a tool that’s evolving fast, and I’m hopeful it’ll soon be a standard option for pancreatic cancer patients and families like yours. The field is moving toward a future where treatment decisions are guided not just by the type and stage of cancer, but by how your specific tumor responds in the lab before treatment begins.

The survivor perspectives from patients KH, AS, and JG were helpful additions to the book’s overall discussion of pancreatic cancer. How important do you feel it is to have connection with such support structures? What top resources would you encourage patients and their caregivers to pursue?

While people differ, we are fundamentally social beings. There cannot be a greater need for social support than when facing a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. The most valuable support often comes from loved ones who already know you and hold significance in your life. However, not every family situation is identical—spouses and adult children may be occupied with demanding careers, and while family typically rallies around the patient, some relationships may be complicated by estrangement or divorce (though I’ve witnessed divorced spouses return to become phenomenal caregivers).

Fortunately, support extends beyond immediate family. Fellow patients who understand the journey firsthand, charitable organizations with dedicated resources, and healthcare professionals can all provide crucial emotional and social support. This support can be accessed in person or through online communities, depending on the patient’s preferences and circumstances.

As the disease progresses, especially if treatment outcomes aren’t favorable, it often becomes beneficial to have healthcare professionals assist with managing side effects and personal care needs like toileting and bathing, while family members focus on providing emotional support. Many parents feel uncomfortable having their adult children see them in vulnerable states—naked or soiled—and while sometimes this level of care becomes necessary and represents a profound expression of love, the family experience is typically less taxing when nurses or health aides can manage these aspects of care.

For those seeking top resources, I would recommend:

1. Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN)—Offers patient services, connects patients with others on similar journeys, and provides educational resources tailored to different stages of the disease.

2. The Lustgarten Foundation—Funds research and offers support programs while providing excellent educational resources.

3. Hospital-based support groups—Many major cancer centers host regular meetings where patients and caregivers can connect with others facing similar challenges.

4. Online communities—Groups on platforms like Inspire.com offer 24/7 access to support from others who truly understand the experience.

5. Professional psychological support—Oncology social workers and therapists with experience in cancer care can provide invaluable tools for coping with the emotional aspects of the disease.

6. Palliative care teams—These specialists focus on quality of life and symptom management regardless of treatment stage and can coordinate between medical needs and emotional well-being.

The strength derived from these connections often proves as vital as medical treatment itself, providing both practical assistance and the emotional resilience needed to face this challenging diagnosis.

What is next for you? And how should we keep up with your projects?

I’ve recently completed the first draft of my new book, Better Health with AI: Simple Steps for Real Results. This project addresses a critical gap between AI’s remarkable capabilities in healthcare and the general public’s understanding of how to effectively harness these tools for personal health management.

The book begins by comparing our health awareness to flying an aircraft with unreliable instruments—we feel minor injuries acutely (papercuts really hurt), yet potentially serious conditions like early-stage cancers often progress silently without symptoms. I then tackle the important issue of privacy and data security, explaining how in healthcare AI applications, the perceived risks often significantly exceed the actual risks.

A central section explores how to appropriately trust AI health tools while implementing practical verification strategies to safeguard against occasional AI errors. The heart of the book demonstrates how AI can be leveraged for early detection and prevention of ten common diseases, including heart disease, dementia, breast cancer, and diabetes.

For readers seeking practical implementation, comprehensive appendices provide step-by-step instructions for downloading and analyzing data from smartwatches and wearables, combining this information with medication lists and laboratory results to identify meaningful trends and generate personalized health recommendations.

The book’s fundamental message is empowerment—teaching readers how to systematically monitor their health using AI tools and, crucially, knowing when and how to bring concerning data patterns to their physician’s attention for professional evaluation.

For those interested in staying updated on this and future projects, you can follow me through my website, Campazzi.com

I anticipate Better Health with AI will be available this fall, and I welcome reader questions and feedback as we navigate this exciting intersection of technology and healthcare together.

Thank you for your thoughtful questions and interest in my work.

Katy Keffer
May 7, 2025

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