Project description:IntroductionPancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a poor 5-year survival rate. PDAC surveillance is recommended in high-risk individuals (HRIs) with strong PDAC family history or a pathogenic germline variant (PGV) in a PDAC susceptibility gene. We aimed to explore a potential correlation between genetic status, extent of family history, pancreatic findings, and surveillance implications in heterogeneous PDAC HRIs.MethodsA total of 239 HRIs from 202 families were tested genetically and underwent prospective pancreatic surveillance for 6 years.ResultsThe cohort was divided into 3 groups: familial pancreatic cancer (FPC; 70 individuals, 54 families), familial non-FPC (81 individuals, 73 families), and hereditary pancreatic cancer (PC) (88 individuals, 75 families). PGVs were detected in 37.6% of all families, including 11.1% of FPC families and 9.6% of familial non-FPC families. The hereditary PC group had earlier onset of PDAC compared with the other 2 groups. BRCA2 PGV carriers showed earlier onset of PDAC and pancreatic cysts. Of the 239 HRIs, PDAC was detected in 11 individuals (4.6%), with 73% diagnosed at an early stage; 4 (1.67%) had pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor; 6 (2.5%) had main-duct intraductal papillary neoplasm (IPMN); and 41 (17.15%) had side-branch IPMN. Seventeen individuals were referred to surgery, and 12 were alive at the end of the study.DiscussionThe percentage of PDAC was similar in the 3 groups studied. The hereditary PC group, and particularly BRCA2 PGV carriers, had an earlier age of PDAC onset. PGVs were detected in a significant percentage of HRIs with PC. Surveillance seems effective for detection of early-stage PDAC and precursor lesions.
Project description:Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Low-dose computed tomography screening (LDCT) was recently shown to anticipate the time of diagnosis, thus reducing lung cancer mortality. We identifed a serum microRNA signature (the miR-Test) that could identify the optimal target population for LDCT screening. Here, we performed a large-scale validation study of the miR-Test in high-risk individuals enrolled in the Continuous Observation of Smoking Subjects (COSMOS) lung cancer screening program. RT-qPCR of circulating microRNA purified from serum samples. Trizol-LS and miRNEASY Mini kit (Qiagen) were used for miRNA purification. Custom TaqMan® Low Density Array microRNA Custom Panel (Life Technologies) was used to screen serum circulating microRNA.
Project description:PurposeTo identify when, from the standpoint of relative risk, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging-based screening may be effective in patients with a known or suspected genetic predisposition to pancreatic cancer.Materials and methodsThe authors developed a Markov model of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The model was calibrated to National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry data and informed by the literature. A hypothetical screening strategy was evaluated in which all population individuals underwent one-time MR imaging screening at age 50 years. Screening outcomes for individuals with an average risk for PDAC ("base case") were compared with those for individuals at an increased risk to assess for differential benefits in populations with a known or suspected genetic predisposition. Effects of varying key inputs, including MR imaging performance, surgical mortality, and screening age, were evaluated with a sensitivity analysis. RESULTS In the base case, screening resulted in a small number of cancer deaths averted (39 of 100 000 men, 38 of 100 000 women) and a net decrease in life expectancy (-3 days for men, -4 days for women), which was driven by unnecessary pancreatic surgeries associated with false-positive results. Life expectancy gains were achieved if an individual's risk for PDAC exceeded 2.4 (men) or 2.7 (women) times that of the general population. When relative risk increased further, for example to 30 times that of the general population, averted cancer deaths and life expectancy gains increased substantially (1219 of 100 000 men, life expectancy gain: 65 days; 1204 of 100 000 women, life expectancy gain: 71 days). In addition, results were sensitive to MR imaging specificity and the surgical mortality rate.ConclusionAlthough PDAC screening with MR imaging for the entire population is not effective, individuals with even modestly increased risk may benefit.
Project description:100 subjects who have a family history of pancreatic cancer (PC), or known genetic syndromes associated with increased risk of pancreatic cancer, will be followed for five years. This data will be used to determine the pancreatic cancer and precancerous lesion detection rate in High Risk Individuals (HRIs). Subjects may agree to annual imaging and annual biomarkers or to biomarkers only.
Project description:Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Low-dose computed tomography screening (LDCT) was recently shown to anticipate the time of diagnosis, thus reducing lung cancer mortality. We identifed a serum microRNA signature (the miR-Test) that could identify the optimal target population for LDCT screening. Here, we performed a large-scale validation study of the miR-Test in high-risk individuals enrolled in the Continuous Observation of Smoking Subjects (COSMOS) lung cancer screening program.
Project description:IntroductionPancreatic cancer (PC) screening recommendations have been based on studies performed solely at high-volume academic centers. To make PC screening more widely available, community-based efforts are essential. We implemented a prospective PC screening study in the community of Fairfield County, CT, and report our early safety and efficacy results.MethodsEligible individuals were enrolled into an investigator-initiated study and underwent a baseline and 3 annual magnetic resonance imagings/magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatographies (MRIs/MRCPs) with gadolinium, biannual blood donations for biobanking, and assessments for anxiety and depression. All MRIs were presented at a multidisciplinary board to determine whether further investigation was warranted.ResultsSeventy-five individuals have been enrolled and 201 MRIs performed over a 2.6-year average length of follow-up. Abnormal pancreatic findings (predominantly small cysts) were detected in 58.7% of the participants. Among these, 6.7% underwent endoscopic ultrasound, with 1 case complicated by postprocedural pancreatitis. One surgical resection was performed on a 4.7-cm intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm with a focus on low-grade pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia. One incidental finding of fibrosing mediastinitis was detected. Anxiety and depression scores decreased over the course of this study from 21.4% to 5.4% and 10.7% to 3.6%, respectively.DiscussionThis preliminary report supports the feasibility of performing MRI/magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatographies-based PC screening as part of a clinical trial in a community setting. A longer follow-up is needed to better assess safety and efficacy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report from a community-based PC screening effort ( clinicaltrials.gov ID: NCT03250078).
Project description:ImportancePancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a deadly disease with increasing incidence. The majority of PDACs are incurable at presentation, but population-based screening is not recommended. Surveillance of high-risk individuals for PDAC may lead to early detection, but the survival benefit is unproven.ObjectiveTo compare the survival of patients with surveillance-detected PDAC with US national data.Design, setting, and participantsThis comparative cohort study was conducted in multiple US academic medical centers participating in the Cancer of the Pancreas Screening program, which screens high-risk individuals with a familial or genetic predisposition for PDAC. The comparison cohort comprised patients with PDAC matched for age, sex, and year of diagnosis from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program. The Cancer of the Pancreas Screening program originated in 1998, and data collection was done through 2021. The data analysis was performed from April 29, 2022, through April 10, 2023.ExposuresEndoscopic ultrasonography or magnetic resonance imaging performed annually and standard-of-care surgical and/or oncologic treatment.Main outcomes and measuresStage of PDAC at diagnosis, overall survival (OS), and PDAC mortality were compared using descriptive statistics and conditional logistic regression, Cox proportional hazards regression, and competing risk regression models. Sensitivity analyses and adjustment for lead-time bias were also conducted.ResultsA total of 26 high-risk individuals (mean [SD] age at diagnosis, 65.8 [9.5] years; 15 female [57.7%]) with PDAC were compared with 1504 SEER control patients with PDAC (mean [SD] age at diagnosis, 66.8 [7.9] years; 771 female [51.3%]). The median primary tumor diameter of the 26 high-risk individuals was smaller than in the control patients (2.5 [range, 0.6-5.0] vs 3.6 [range, 0.2-8.0] cm, respectively; P < .001). The high-risk individuals were more likely to be diagnosed with a lower stage (stage I, 10 [38.5%]; stage II, 8 [30.8%]) than matched control patients (stage I, 155 [10.3%]; stage II, 377 [25.1%]; P < .001). The PDAC mortality rate at 5 years was lower for high-risk individuals than control patients (43% vs 86%; hazard ratio, 3.58; 95% CI, 2.01-6.39; P < .001), and high-risk individuals lived longer than matched control patients (median OS, 61.7 [range, 1.9-147.3] vs 8.0 [range, 1.0-131.0] months; 5-year OS rate, 50% [95% CI, 32%-80%] vs 9% [95% CI, 7%-11%]).Conclusions and relevanceThese findings suggest that surveillance of high-risk individuals may lead to detection of smaller, lower-stage PDACs and improved survival.
Project description:Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in both men and women in the United States. However, it has the poorest prognosis of any major tumor type, with a 5-yr survival rate of approximately 5%. Cigarette smoking, increased body mass index, heavy alcohol consumption, and a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus have all been demonstrated to increase risk of pancreatic cancer. A family history of pancreatic cancer has also been associated with increased risk suggesting inherited genetic factors also play an important role, with approximately 5-10% of pancreatic cancer patients reporting family history of pancreatic cancer. While the genetic basis for the majority of the familial clustering of pancreatic cancer remains unclear, several important pancreatic cancer genes have been identified. These consist of high penetrance genes including BRCA2 or PALB2, to more common genetic variation associated with a modest increase risk of pancreatic cancer such as genetic variation at the ABO blood group locus. Recent advances in genotyping and genetic sequencing have accelerated the rate at which novel pancreatic cancer susceptibility genes have been identified with several genes identified within the past few years. This review addresses our current understanding of the familial aggregation of pancreatic cancer, established pancreatic cancer susceptablity genes and how this knowledge informs risk assessment and screening for high-risk families.
Project description:ObjectivesThe goal of this study was to assess the utility of a genetic risk score (GRS) in targeted coronary artery calcium (CAC) screening among young individuals.BackgroundEarly CAC screening and preventive therapy may reduce long-term risk of a coronary heart disease (CHD) event. However, identifying younger individuals at increased risk remains a challenge. GRS for CHD are age independent and can stratify individuals on various risk trajectories.MethodsUsing 142 variants associated with CHD events, we calculated a GRS in 1,927 individuals in the CARDIA (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults) cohort (aged 32 to 47 years) and 6,600 individuals in the MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) cohort (aged 44 to 87 years). We assessed GRS utility to predict CAC presence in the CARDIA cohort and stratify individuals of varying risk for CAC presence over the lifetime in both cohorts.ResultsThe GRS predicted CAC presence in CARDIA males. It was not predictive in CARDIA females, which had a CAC prevalence of 6.4%. In combined analysis of the CARDIA and MESA cohorts, the GRS was predictive of CAC in both males and females and was used to derive an equation for the age at which CAC probability crossed a predetermined threshold. When assessed in combination with traditional risk factors, the GRS further stratified individuals. For individuals with an equal number of traditional risk factors, probability of CAC reached 25% approximately 10 years earlier for those in the highest GRS quintile compared to the lowest.ConclusionsThe GRS may be used to target high-risk younger individuals for early CAC screening.