New gene test makes earlier pancreatic cancer detection possible

Researchers have discovered a protein encoded by the glypican-1 (GPC1) gene present on cancer exomes that may be used as part of a potential noninvasive diagnostic and screening tool to detect early pancreatic cancer.

In the study, published in Nature, Raghu Kalluri, MD, PhD, chair of the department of cancer biology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and colleagues isolated and observed GPC1-enriched circulating exosomes, which they called GPC1+ crExos, using flow cytometry from the blood of patients with pancreatic cancer.

The researchers found that GPC1+ crExos were present in the blood of patients with pancreatic cancer with absolute specificity and sensitivity, clearly distinguishing these patients from healthy patients or those with benign pancreatic disease.

“Routine screening of the general population for pancreatic cancer using MRIs or CTs would be prohibitively expensive with the likelihood for many false positives,” said David Piwnica-Worms, MD, PhD, chair of the department of cancer systems imaging at MD Anderson Cancer Center, in a prepared statement. “Our study suggests the potential for GPC1+ crExos as a detection and monitoring tool for pancreatic cancer in combination with imaging, with an emphasis on its application in early detection.”

The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion and analysis. Read full, original post: Marker Could Help Diagnose Early Pancreatic Cancer

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