Scientists discover more potential biomarkers of early pancreatic cancer

Date: Feb-03-2015 Another team of researchers has found another group of small molecules whose

presence in the blood may be used to test for early signs of pancreatic cancer - a disease

with a poor survival rate that affects around 46,000 people a year in the US and ranks fourth as

a leading cause of cancer deaths among Americans.

Imaging techniques like CT scanning and MRI are unable to tell you if pancreatic lesions are benign or malignant.

The researchers, from H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, FL, report their findings

in the journal PLOS ONE.

Only around 6% of people with pancreatic cancer survive more than 5 years after

diagnosis. The main reason is because of the lack of reliable tools to diagnose the

disease early enough so surgeons can remove the cancer before it spreads.

Like work currently going on in other research centers, the Moffitt team focused on a small group of

molecules called microRNAs. But in their case, they looked specifically at microRNAs

linked to intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs).

IPMNs are a type of pancreatic cyst or lesion that can lead to pancreatic cancer in

the same way that precancerous polyps can lead to colon cancer.

IPMN lesions can be seen on computed tomography (CT) scans and

magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs), but these scanning techniques are unable to tell you if the

cysts are benign (low risk of cancer) or malignant (high risk of cancer).

Currently, the only way to test if the pancreatic lesions are high risk or low risk

for cancer is to remove them with surgery - but this is itself high risk because it can

result in long-term diabetes and death.

The other option is to wait and see if the lesions lead to cancer, but this is far

from ideal because it denies doctors the chance to cure their patients of a potentially

life-threatening condition.

Study found six microRNAs that differentiate high- and low-risk pancreatic

lesions

MicroRNAs are small molecules that act as "master regulators" that control many cancer

processes in the body. They can be found in tumor tissue and in blood and other body

fluids.

There is growing evidence that microRNAs could serve as biomarkers of early

pancreatic cancer.

For example, in October 2014, Medical News Today reported how researchers

from Indiana University School of Medicine found a panel

of microRNAs that could be used as a blood test for pancreatic cancer.

In that study, the team suggested three microRNAs - miR-10b, miR-155 and miR-106b -

might serve as highly accurate early indicators of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) -

the most common type of pancreatic cancer.

In this new study, the Moffitt team looked for microRNAs that might be linked with

high-risk IPMN lesions that should probably be removed as soon as possible to avoid

full-blown pancreatic cancer.

To do this, they analyzed IPMN tissue that had been surgically removed from patients

diagnosed and treated at Moffitt and found six microRNAs that appeared to differentiate

high-risk from low-risk lesions.

The six microRNAs may also contribute to pancreatic cancer progression

The six microRNAs the Moffitt team identified are: miR-100, miR-99b, miR-99a, miR-342

-3p, miR-126 and miRNA-130a.

The team also found evidence to suggest these microRNAs may contribute to

pancreatic cancer progression.

First author Dr. Jennifer Permuth-Wey, applied research scientist and molecular

epidemiologist in Moffitt's Cancer Epidemiology Program, says:

"The hope is that this line of research may eventually lead to a

microRNA-based blood test that could be used in conjunction with imaging features and

other factors to aid the medical team and patient in accurately predicting disease

severity at the time of IPMN diagnosis or follow-up."

And in a more general sense, as with other groups coming forward with potential new

biomarkers, the team hopes their findings will also help find new ways to prevent and

detect pancreatic cancer earlier and improve the current poor prognosis for most patients

with the disease.

Funds for the study came from the American Cancer Society, the National Cancer

Institute, the United States Public Health Service and the Moffitt Gastrointestinal

Oncology Program.

Written by Catharine Paddock PhD

Courtesy: Medical News Today Note: Any medical information available in this news section is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional.