# Using Markers to Improve Pancreatic Cancer Screening

> **NIH NIH R01** · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $417,006

## Abstract

Most patients with pancreatic cancer present with advanced incurable disease, but patients
diagnosed with Stage I pancreatic cancer have a much better outcome. The early detection of
pancreatic cancer requires simple and effective pancreatic screening tests that can be applied
to high risk populations. The Cancer of the Pancreas Screening (CAPS) study currently follows
a familial/genetic “high-risk” cohort of ~1000 patients undergo regular pancreatic surveillance.
Recent results from the CAPS program indicate that pancreatic cancers detected during
pancreatic surveillance are down-staged; 40% of those who maintained annual surveillance had
a Stage I pancreatic cancer. These results indicate that early detection can improve overall
outcome of patients with pancreatic cancer. Circulating tumor marker tests are not currently
used for pancreas surveillance. Genetic factors are known to influence tumor marker levels, but
gene tests have not been evaluated to determine if they could improve the accuracy of tumor
markers. Recent studies from the PI's lab indicate that the normal reference ranges of
commonly used tumor markers (CA19-9, CA-125 and CEA) are better defined by an individual's
tumor marker genotype. A tumor marker genotype test can improve the diagnostic sensitivity of
tumor markers at 99% specificity compared to conventional diagnostic cut-offs. We propose to
establish genetically-defined normal reference ranges for tumor marker levels and evaluate their
diagnostic accuracy in a prospective clinical trial of patients undergoing pancreatic imaging
surveillance through our CAPS program. The addition of annual blood tests to pancreatic
surveillance is expected to improve the detection of early-stage pancreatic cancer.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10051443
- **Project number:** 2R01CA176828-06A1
- **Recipient organization:** JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Michael G. Goggins
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $417,006
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2013-07-01 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10051443

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10051443, Using Markers to Improve Pancreatic Cancer Screening (2R01CA176828-06A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10051443. Licensed CC0.

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