Better cyst fluid tests to find pancreatic cancer earlier
Advancing the Clinical Translation of Cyst Fluid Assays for Early Detection of Pancreatic Cancer
This project tests protein-based cyst fluid assays that use very small samples to find cysts likely to become pancreatic cancer in people with pancreatic cysts.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11305267 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have a pancreatic cyst, this project aims to improve the lab tests done on fluid taken from the cyst to tell which cysts are high risk. Researchers used a sensitive mass spectrometry method to find a protease called gastricsin that can distinguish mucinous, potentially dangerous cysts using only about 5 µL of fluid. The team plans to refine and translate this assay so it can be used reliably in clinical care where current tests like CEA are often insensitive or require larger volumes. The work focuses on making the test more accurate and applicable to the many patients whose cyst fluid samples are too small for current standard tests.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with pancreatic cystic lesions who are undergoing clinical evaluation and can provide cyst fluid through aspiration.
Not a fit: People without pancreatic cysts, those with clearly non-mucinous cysts that have no malignant potential, or patients who cannot undergo cyst fluid sampling are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the test could help catch dangerous cysts earlier and reduce unnecessary surgeries by more accurately identifying high-risk cysts from tiny fluid samples.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work by the investigators showed that gastricsin can identify mucinous cysts with very high accuracy (AUC ~0.98), but this approach still needs clinical optimization and broader validation.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kirkwood, Kimberly Saunders — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Kirkwood, Kimberly Saunders
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.