Blood and cyst-fluid tests to spot high-risk pancreatic cysts
Official title: Biomarker Validation in Pancreatic Cystic Neoplasms
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-11184478 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Testing whether blood and cyst-fluid tests can help people with pancreatic cysts detect early pancreatic cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $49,500 |
| NIH project number | 5U01CA282272-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11184478 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with pancreatic cysts, including people under surveillance for cysts (for example cysts ≥2.5 cm or main duct ≥5 mm) and patients undergoing cyst removal, are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without pancreatic cysts, those with advanced (late-stage) pancreatic cancer, or those unwilling to provide blood or cyst-fluid samples are unlikely to benefit from this project.
What this research studies
Researchers will validate three blood tests and one cyst-fluid test that showed promising early results, using samples collected under rigorous, blinded procedures. They will use samples from people with early-stage pancreatic cancer, patients who had pancreatic cysts removed, and people with larger or main-duct–involved cysts who are being watched over time. The team will compare biomarker results alone and combined with imaging and clinical information to see which approach best separates high-risk from low-risk cysts. Samples and data will be collected at UC San Diego and partner sites following prospective-specimen-collection, retrospective-blinded-evaluation standards.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these tests could help doctors find cancers earlier and avoid unnecessary surgery for low-risk pancreatic cysts.
How similar studies have gone: Related biomarker tests have shown promising preliminary accuracy, but larger blinded validation studies like this are still needed.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Simeone, Diane M — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Simeone, Diane M
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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.