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Publications

Journal Article Review Ahead of print

PubMed: 42298760 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.70592

Pancreatic Cancer Early Detection Biomarkers for High-Risk Individuals: Insights From the PRECEDE Consortium.

Int J Cancer

Authors: Christine Worthington, Maria Raitses-Gurevich, Giulio Innamorati, Phil A Hart, Thomas M Wilkie, Noam Tau, Dana Brin, Doron Yablecovitch, Ido Laish, Dove Keith, Kurt Giles, Jennifer B Permuth, Diane M Simeone, George Zogopoulos, Randall E Brand, John J Graff, Julie Earl

Affiliations

  • Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, College of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
  • The Jusidman Cancer Center, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel HaShomer Hospital, Ramat Gan, Israel.
  • Laboratory of Translational Surgery, Department of Surgery, Dentistry, Maternity and Infant, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
  • Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
  • Pharmacology Department, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
  • Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel HaShomer Hospital, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Gan, Israel.
  • Gastroenterology Institute, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel HaShomer Hospital, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Gan, Israel.
  • Brenden-Colson Center for Pancreatic Care, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA.
  • Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.
  • Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Department of Cancer Epidemiology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA.
  • Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego Health, Moores Cancer Center, San Diego, California, USA.
  • Department of Surgery, Department of Oncology, McGill University and the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
  • Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
  • PRECEDE Data Coordinating Center, Arbor Research Collaborative for Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
  • Biomarkers and Personalized Approach to Cancer (BIOPAC) Group, Ramon y Cajal Health Research Institute, (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain.

Abstract

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains one of the deadliest cancers due to its asymptomatic progression, late-stage diagnosis, and treatment resistance. Efforts in early detection have centered on identifying imaging features and liquid biopsy biomarkers capable of detecting PDAC and its high-grade precursors before clinical symptoms arise in patients at elevated risk of PDAC development. Classical imaging-based surveillance strategies, aligned with current guidelines, form the foundation of screening high-risk individuals, while organ-specific fluid analyses-such as cyst fluid and pancreatic juice-offer promising complementary tools with enhanced specificity. Recent advances in radiomics, liquid biopsy, microbiome, and multi-omics profiling are expanding the frontier of early detection. Despite advances, significant challenges persist. Precursor lesions are difficult to non-invasively diagnose; are not radiologically or endosonographically visible, or cannot be definitively graded prior to resection. Though biomarkers show promise for early detection, they present unique challenges: early-stage neoplasias release low levels of many biomarkers and thresholds for these biomarkers that define malignant transformation-and thus guide surgical intervention-remain poorly established. Multi-institutional initiatives like the Pancreatic Cancer Early Detection consortium (PRECEDE) are critical to bridging discovery and clinical translation. Our international cohort study of high-risk individuals was designed to discover and validate diagnostic biomarkers according to the PROBE study design. Continued collaboration, technological integration, and patient-centered approaches are essential to transform early detection research into tangible survival benefits for those at risk of PDAC.

MeSH

Pancreatic Neoplasms, Early Detection Of Cancer, Neoplasms, Biopsy, Biomarkers, Signs And Symptoms, Diagnosis, Liquid Biopsy