Blood markers to detect early pancreatic cancer
Official title: Validation of biomarkers for risk prediction and early diagnosis of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11307149 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Checking whether specific blood markers can help find early pancreatic cancer or identify people at higher risk, especially those with pancreatic cysts or a family history.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | May 17, 2016 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,263,696 |
| NIH project number | 5U01CA200466-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11307149 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people with pancreatic cysts (IPMN or MCN), a strong family history of pancreatic cancer, or known genetic mutations that increase pancreatic cancer risk.
✕Less likely to help
People without pancreatic risk factors or those already diagnosed with advanced, metastatic pancreatic cancer are unlikely to benefit from early-detection markers.
What this research studies
If you join, you would give blood so researchers can measure CA19-9 and newer serum markers to see if they signal early pancreatic cancer. The team uses samples from people with pancreatic cysts, those with a family history or genetic risk, and patients with diagnosed pancreatic cancer, and laboratory testing is done blind to clinical outcomes. By comparing marker levels with imaging, surgical findings, and pathology, researchers aim to validate which markers reliably indicate cancer or high-risk cysts. These validated markers could then be used to guide who needs closer surveillance or surgery.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these markers could allow earlier detection when surgery is more likely to cure pancreatic cancer, improving survival outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Existing markers such as CA19-9 are limited in sensitivity and specificity, and while some multi-marker panels have shown promise, rigorous validation in high-risk groups remains relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brand, Randall — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Brand, Randall
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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.