Race-based differences in serum biomarkers for cancer-associated cachexia in a diverse cohort of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is projected to become the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths by 2040, with the highest disease burden expected amongst Non-Hispanic Black patients. One of the most significant predictors of poor outcomes is the presence of cancer-associated cachexia (CCa). Yet, race- and ethnicity-specific biomarkers for early CCa diagnosis are lacking.

Methods

We evaluated a panel of candidate biomarkers of CCa in a diverse cohort of patients with pre-treatment serum using multiplex ELISA-based methods.

Results

We find that growth/differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is associated with cachexia severity, is superior to standard biomarkers at classifying cachexia, and differentiates between non-cachexia and pre-cachexia status, but

SUBMITTER: Park MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12789063 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature