New Biomarker Panel to Enable Early Detection of Pancreatic Cancer

In Ireland, there are about 900 cases of pancreatic cancer annually, leading to 820 deaths. Early detection of PC is the primary concern in research, as it holds the potential to greatly improve treatment and survival rates. However, diagnosing PC in its early stages remains challenging due to vague symptoms, resulting in the disease often being detected at later stages. Now, researchers have focused on pancreatic cystic lesions, which could play a crucial role in identifying high-risk patients, to improve the early detection of PC and, in turn, survival rates.

Researchers from Trinity College Dublin (Dublin, Ireland) have developed a biomarker panel to address the challenge of distinguishing between low-risk and high-risk pancreatic cystic lesions. These lesions, which are fluid-filled sacs in the pancreas, vary in their potential to develop into PC. The panel is based on factors found in patients' blood and the fluid from their cystic lesions, which differ in levels between low-risk and high-risk patients. The panel shows high accuracy in identifying those at high risk of developing pancreatic cancer. While current clinical guidelines are used to separate patients into risk groups, the lack of consensus and imperfect methods have contributed to the difficulty in early detection. This new biomarker panel could enhance the ability to identify patients at risk much earlier.

The research, published in Scientific Reports, demonstrated the deregulation of proteins and genetic material in pancreatic disease, providing significant insights into the biomarkers of PC risk. The findings suggest that the biomarker panel could have a substantial impact on identifying high-risk patients earlier, potentially leading to better outcomes. The study has generated four large datasets, now publicly available for further research. These datasets can help develop new treatments for PC or identify key biological pathways involved in pancreatic cystic lesion development. The researchers plan to continue validating these findings in larger, independent cohorts to further refine and develop the biomarker panel for widespread clinical use.

"Improving outcomes and survival rates for patients facing a pancreatic cancer diagnosis is our research priority. In this study, we have created a promising biomarker panel with the potential to help us identify individuals with a high risk of developing pancreatic cancer," said Dr. Laura Kane, senior author. “Our hope is that with further development, this biomarker panel will enable us to effectively monitor high-risk patients, detect pancreatic cancer at an earlier stage, and therefore improve outcomes and survival rates for these patients."