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

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, co...

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Main Authors: 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 T. Spellman, Gordon B. Mills, Rosalie C. Sears, Terry K. Morgan, Thuy T. M. Ngo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-08-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62685-y
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author 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 T. Spellman
Gordon B. Mills
Rosalie C. Sears
Terry K. Morgan
Thuy T. M. Ngo
author_facet 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 T. Spellman
Gordon B. Mills
Rosalie C. Sears
Terry K. Morgan
Thuy T. M. Ngo
author_sort Travis W. Moore
collection DOAJ
description 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.
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spelling doaj-art-e5b54916f7af4efaba3460a6ae0e71382025-08-20T03:46:17ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-08-0116111210.1038/s41467-025-62685-yCell free RNA detection of pancreatic cancer in pre diagnostic high risk and symptomatic patientsTravis W. Moore0Elias Spiliotopoulos1Rowan L. Callahan2C. Ward Kirschbaum3Conner F. Bailey4Hyun Ji Kim5Breeshey Roskams-Hieter6Florian Goncalves7Dove Keith8Aaron J. Grossberg9Paul T. Spellman10Gordon B. Mills11Rosalie C. Sears12Terry K. Morgan13Thuy T. M. Ngo14Cancer Early Detection Advanced Research Center (CEDAR), Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science UniversityCancer Early Detection Advanced Research Center (CEDAR), Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science UniversityCancer Early Detection Advanced Research Center (CEDAR), Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science UniversityCancer Early Detection Advanced Research Center (CEDAR), Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science UniversityCancer Early Detection Advanced Research Center (CEDAR), Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science UniversityCancer Early Detection Advanced Research Center (CEDAR), Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science UniversityCancer Early Detection Advanced Research Center (CEDAR), Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science UniversityCancer Early Detection Advanced Research Center (CEDAR), Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science UniversityBrenden-Colson Center for Pancreatic Care, Oregon Health and Science UniversityCancer Early Detection Advanced Research Center (CEDAR), Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science UniversityCancer Early Detection Advanced Research Center (CEDAR), Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science UniversityDivision of Oncological Sciences, Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science UniversityBrenden-Colson Center for Pancreatic Care, Oregon Health and Science UniversityCancer Early Detection Advanced Research Center (CEDAR), Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science UniversityCancer Early Detection Advanced Research Center (CEDAR), Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science UniversityAbstract 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.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62685-y
spellingShingle 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 T. Spellman
Gordon B. Mills
Rosalie C. Sears
Terry K. Morgan
Thuy T. M. Ngo
Cell free RNA detection of pancreatic cancer in pre diagnostic high risk and symptomatic patients
Nature Communications
title Cell free RNA detection of pancreatic cancer in pre diagnostic high risk and symptomatic patients
title_full Cell free RNA detection of pancreatic cancer in pre diagnostic high risk and symptomatic patients
title_fullStr Cell free RNA detection of pancreatic cancer in pre diagnostic high risk and symptomatic patients
title_full_unstemmed Cell free RNA detection of pancreatic cancer in pre diagnostic high risk and symptomatic patients
title_short Cell free RNA detection of pancreatic cancer in pre diagnostic high risk and symptomatic patients
title_sort cell free rna detection of pancreatic cancer in pre diagnostic high risk and symptomatic patients
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62685-y
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