The role of biomarkers in the early detection of pancreatic cancer

Fam Cancer. 2024 Apr 25. doi: 10.1007/s10689-024-00381-4. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Pancreatic surveillance can detect early-stage pancreatic cancer and achieve long-term survival, but currently involves annual endoscopic ultrasound and MRI/MRCP, and is recommended only for individuals who meet familial/genetic risk criteria. To improve upon current approaches to pancreatic cancer early detection and to expand access, more accurate, inexpensive, and safe biomarkers are needed, but finding them has remained elusive. Newer approaches to early detection, such as using gene tests to personalize biomarker interpretation, and the increasing application of artificial intelligence approaches to integrate complex biomarker data, offer promise that clinically useful biomarkers for early pancreatic cancer detection are on the horizon.

Keywords: Biomarker; CA19-9; Early detection; Familial pancreatic cancer; Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm; Pancreatic cancer; Pancreatic cyst; Pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia; Pancreatic surveillance; Tumor marker gene test.

Publication types

  • Review