Possible Pancreatic Cancer Biomarker Identified

Cancer researchers have found that the gene that codes for protein carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 1 (CEACAM 1) is overexpressed in individuals suffering from pancreatic cancer and have proposed that this protein may serve as a biomarker for the disease.

Investigators at the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI, USA) used both RNA microarray assays and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in RNA analysis to identify potential biomarkers from a group of 158 genes that had previously been shown to be active in patients with pancreatic cancer.

They found that levels of CEACAM 1 were elevated in the blood of pancreatic cancer patients, and that levels of RNA and mRNA corresponding to its production were higher in the cells of cancer patients than in pancreatitis or normal tissue. Measurement of CEACAM 1 differentiated pancreatic cancer from normal tissue better than the measurement of CA19-9, the current "gold standard” test. Assaying both CEACAM 1 and CA19-9 was even more effective. These findings were reported at the Digestive Disease Week conference in New Orleans (LA, USA) in May 2004.

"Although more research is needed on the ability of CEACAM 1 serum tests to tell pancreatic cancer from pancreatitis, we are definitely getting closer to the kinds of innovation that will be needed to increase patients' odds of finding and surviving pancreatic cancer,” said Dr. Diane Simeone, associate professor in the department of surgery at the University of Michigan.

Meanwhile, other research presented in a poster at the DDW meeting may help spare some patients surgery. By looking for gene expression levels of three genes in samples of pancreatic tissue taken by fine-needle aspiration biopsy, researchers found that they could pinpoint the nature of previously indeterminate lesions. If the results can be replicated in a larger clinical trial currently being planned, this approach could help prevent surgery for patients whose biopsy shows they have pancreatitis, not cancer.




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