IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v16y2025i1d10.1038_s41467-025-62685-y.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Cell free RNA detection of pancreatic cancer in pre diagnostic high risk and symptomatic patients

Author

Listed:
  • Travis W. Moore

    (Oregon Health and Science University)

  • Elias Spiliotopoulos

    (Oregon Health and Science University)

  • Rowan L. Callahan

    (Oregon Health and Science University
    Oregon Health and Science University)

  • C. Ward Kirschbaum

    (Oregon Health and Science University)

  • Conner F. Bailey

    (Oregon Health and Science University)

  • Hyun Ji Kim

    (Oregon Health and Science University
    Oregon Health and Science University)

  • Breeshey Roskams-Hieter

    (Oregon Health and Science University
    University of Edinburgh
    Health Data Research UK)

  • Florian Goncalves

    (Oregon Health and Science University
    Oregon Health and Science University)

  • Dove Keith

    (Oregon Health and Science University)

  • Aaron J. Grossberg

    (Oregon Health and Science University
    Oregon Health and Science University
    Oregon Health and Science University)

  • Paul T. Spellman

    (Oregon Health and Science University
    University of California)

  • Gordon B. Mills

    (Oregon Health and Science University)

  • Rosalie C. Sears

    (Oregon Health and Science University
    Oregon Health and Science University)

  • Terry K. Morgan

    (Oregon Health and Science University
    Oregon Health and Science University
    Oregon Health and Science University)

  • Thuy T. M. Ngo

    (Oregon Health and Science University
    Oregon Health and Science University
    Oregon Health and Science University
    Oregon Health and Science University)

Abstract

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC) are among the most fatal cancers, in part due to frequent detection at advanced stages. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA), the most sensitive diagnostic method of PDAC in current standard clinical practice, is invasive, costly, with access limited to major healthcare settings. Here, we present a non-invasive evaluation of plasma cell-free RNA (cfRNA) for PDAC detection in pre-diagnostic high-risk and de novo symptomatic patients presenting for EUS-FNA. We develop a cfRNA normalization method to account for preanalytical variation and handling effects and derive 29 potential cfRNA biomarkers for PDAC diagnosis using 153 samples collected prior to the EUS procedure. Biomarkers related to liver function are elevated in PDAC samples, including early-stage patients without liver metastasis. Classification of PDAC using these biomarkers is validated using an independent cohort of 95 samples. Our findings could help to improve diagnostic utility in high-risk and symptomatic individuals.

Suggested Citation

  • Travis W. Moore & Elias Spiliotopoulos & Rowan L. Callahan & C. Ward Kirschbaum & Conner F. Bailey & Hyun Ji Kim & Breeshey Roskams-Hieter & Florian Goncalves & Dove Keith & Aaron J. Grossberg & Paul , 2025. "Cell free RNA detection of pancreatic cancer in pre diagnostic high risk and symptomatic patients," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-62685-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-62685-y
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-62685-y
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-025-62685-y?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-62685-y. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.