Searching for Potential Pancreatic Cancer Blood Biomarkers

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Will tracking the health of potentially at-risk people help find a test for early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer?

Researchers are conducting a clinical trial that follows participants for five years. During that time the participants will periodically provide blood samples that will be tested for diabetes, as well as pancreatic cancer blood biomarkers that are under development. The goal is to identify biomarkers that can become a test for pancreatic cancer in its earliest stages.

Qualifying for this Trial

The trial seeks people with certain medical conditions that put them at greater risk for pancreatic cancer. These conditions include new-onset type 2 diabetes; prediabetes; pancreatic cysts; and chronic pancreatitis. The trial is also for carriers of genetic mutations including BRCA1/2, PALB2, CKDN2A, and others; and a family history of pancreatic cancer. Volunteers without any of these conditions will also be included for comparison.

Participating in this Trial

All participants will provide periodic blood samples for the A1c test, which measures blood glucose over the previous three months. The A1c test is used to diagnose prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.

Participants already diagnosed with new-onset diabetes or prediabetes will take the mixed meal tolerance test, which measures hormone secretions from the pancreas and small intestine.

Blood samples will also be tested for pancreatic cancer biomarkers that are under development.

Researchers are looking for the number of pancreatic cancer cases diagnosed, although not all cases will be diagnosed through this study. The study will focus on the biomarker testing results. For the patients who have or may develop diabetes, the mixed meal tolerance test may indicate the presence of type 3c diabetes, which is considered a risk factor for developing pancreatic cancer.

We encourage you to consult your physicians for clinical trials that may be right for you. The website ClinicalTrials.gov provides more details about this trial as well as many others. You can visit the EmergingMed Trial Finder for a listing of all active pancreatic cancer clinical trials.

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