Pancreatic cancer is hard to diagnose and is usually found at a late stage when treatment is less effective. Only about 1 in 10 patients survives more than 5 years after diagnosis.

Researchers supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) developed a blood test to detect early‑stage pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and improve clinical outcomes. The study was published in Clinical Cancer Research.

Scientists at the Perelman School of Medicine and Mayo Clinic studied blood samples from people with pancreatic cancer and from similar people without cancer.

They evaluated two previously studied biomarkers: carbohydrate antigen 19‑9 (CA19‑9), commonly used to monitor treatment response in pancreatic cancer, and thrombospondin‑2 (THBS2), another previously investigated marker.

Neither proved sufficiently effective as a screening tool individually. For example, CA19‑9 levels may also be elevated in people with benign conditions such as pancreatitis or bile duct obstruction.

However, after analyzing stored blood samples from a biobank, the team identified two additional protein biomarkers that were elevated in patients with early‑stage pancreatic cancer compared to healthy individuals: aminopeptidase N (ANPEP) and polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (PIGR).

The four‑marker panel distinguished early‑stage pancreatic cancer from both healthy individuals and those with noncancerous pancreatic conditions, such as pancreatitis, suggesting clinical utility for differentiating challenging diagnostic cases.

“These prediagnostic studies will help determine whether the test could be used as a screening tool for individuals at high risk of developing the disease, based on family history, genetic testing, or a personal history of pancreatic cysts or pancreatitis,” said Kenneth Zaret of the University of Pennsylvania, the study’s lead investigator.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) occurs when exocrine cells grow uncontrollably and form a tumor.

Risk factors for PDAC include:

In its early stages, pancreatic cancer often causes no symptoms, which is one of the main reasons it is frequently diagnosed late.

Because early pancreatic cancer is often asymptomatic, clinicians must systematically evaluate medical history to identify at‑risk patients and counsel them on symptoms that should prompt immediate evaluation, such as:

Good communication between healthcare providers and patients is critical for discussions about pancreatic cancer. Experts say more research is needed to find the best ways to deliver this news and meet patients’ and families’ needs.