Stratifying Risk for Pancreatic Cancer by Multiplexed Blood Test

Abstract

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly lethal disease, for which mortality closely parallels incidence. So far, the available techniques for PDAC detection are either too invasive or not sensitive enough. To overcome this limitation, here we present a multiplexed point-of-care test that provides a “risk score” for each subject under investigation, by combining systemic inflammatory response biomarkers, standard laboratory tests, and the most recent nanoparticle-enabled blood (NEB) tests. The former parameters are routinely evaluated in clinical practice, whereas NEB tests have been recently proven as promising tools to assist in PDAC diagnosis. Our results revealed that PDAC patients and healthy subjects can be distinguished accurately (i.e., 88.9% specificity, 93.6% sensitivity) by the presented multiplexed point-of-care test, in a quick, non-invasive, and highly cost-efficient way. Furthermore, the test allows for the definition of a “risk threshold”, which can help clinicians to trace the optimal diagnostic and therapeutic care pathway for each patient. For these reasons, we envision that this work may accelerate progress in the early detection of PDAC and contribute to the design of screening programs for high-risk populations.

Pancreatic Cancer Health Disparity: Pharmacologic Anthropology

“…Disparities in PCa screening and early detection contribute to differences in outcomes. Limited access to screening programs, a lack of awareness about the importance of early detection, and inadequate utilization of screening services can result in late-stage diagnoses and reduced treatment options [88][89][90][91]. Difficulties in navigating the healthcare system can impede access to timely and appropriate care for PCa.…”

“…Variations in genes involved in drug metabolism and response pathways can contribute to disparities in treatment outcomes and side effects among different populations. The tumor microenvironment, including the immune system and stromal components, influences PCa progression and treatment response [88,90,98,106].…”