Novel pancreatic cancer biomarker panel may help diagnose early disease

Three new biomarkers, in addition to known biomarker CA 19-9, have been identified as an effective blood-based panel for pancreatic cancer screening at an early stage.

According to research presented today at an American Association for Cancer Research teleconference, Pancreatic Cancer: Innovations in Research and Treatment, testing for four combined biomarkers allowed researchers to successfully identify 85% to 92% of samples from patients with pancreatic cancer compared with healthy individuals, those with pancreatitis or pancreatic cysts.

Ayumu Taguchi

Ayumu Taguchi, PhD, MD, assistant professor at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, said that about 10% of patients with pancreatic cancer are diagnosed at later stages of the disease, and the goal of his research is to develop a reliable, non-invasive way to test for pancreatic cancer.

From 98 blood samples from people with pancreatic cancer, 50 healthy individuals and 29 individuals with chronic pancreatitis, levels of CA 19-9 were analyzed along with 20 other potential biomarkers. Researchers combed the data using a logistical regression model to reveal the most promising combination of biomarkers, and conducted further analyses to validate results using two independent cohorts. One cohort was comprised of 42 patients with early stage pancreatic cancer, 50 patients with chronic pancreatitis and 50 healthy people. The second cohort consisted of 22 patients with early stage pancreatic cancer and 14 patients with benign pancreatic cysts.

The use of CA 19-9 proved effective in correctly identifying 76% to 78% of healthy individuals, those with pancreatitis and those with pancreatic cysts, whereas the combined four-biomarker panel identified 90% to 94%.

“Our biomarker panel was much better at distinguishing patients with pancreatic cancer from those who were healthy, had chronic pancreatitis, or had pancreatic cysts compared with CA 19-9 alone,” Taguchi said in a press release. “This means that our panel has the potential to substantially reduce the number of patients who would have to undergo extremely invasive screening procedures.”

Taguchi said the use of the panel needs further study, but he is hopeful the technique will develop into clinical application.

Andrew M. Lowy, MD, discussion chair from the University of California San Diego, said on the conference call that if the technique makes its way into clinical practice, it would likely only be used on high-risk individuals to avoid false positives. – by Shirley Pulawski

For more information:

Taguchi A. #B20. Presented at: AACR Pancreatic Cancer: Innovations in Research and Treatment; New Orleans; May 18-21, 2014.

Disclosures: The study was supported by funds from the National Cancer Institute Early Detection Network and The Lustgarten Foundation. Taguchi reports no relevant financial disclosures.