# Using markers to improve pancreatic cancer screening and surveillance: a multi-center study

> **NIH NIH U01** · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $786,628

## Abstract

Abstract
Patients diagnosed with Stage I pancreatic cancer have a much better outcome than most
patients who present with advanced disease. The Cancer of the Pancreas Screening (CAPS) study
currently follows a familial/genetic “high-risk” cohort of ~1500 patients undergo regular pancreatic
surveillance. Recent results from the CAPS program indicate that most patients who maintain regular
surveillance are down-staged, many are diagnosed with Stage I pancreatic cancer and achieve
long-term survival. Circulating tumor marker tests are not currently used for pancreas surveillance,
but we propose to evaluate blood tests for patients undergoing pancreatic surveillance. We
will evaluate the use of tumor marker gene tests to better define an individual’s tumor marker normal
reference range. We will evaluate the use of plasma MR spectroscopy as a diagnostic test that
utilizes artificial-intelligence methods to detect subtle circulating metabolic changes associated with
having pancreatic cancer. We will also determine if blood biomarker changes occur before the
diagnosis of pancreatic cancer in our cohort. The addition of annual blood tests to pancreatic
surveillance is expected to improve the detection of early-stage pancreatic cancer. We will continue
to evaluate the long-term outcomes of patients in our cohort and bank biospecimens for future
biomarker studies.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10526649
- **Project number:** 2U01CA210170-06
- **Recipient organization:** JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Michael G. Goggins
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $786,628
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2016-07-18 → 2027-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10526649

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10526649, Using markers to improve pancreatic cancer screening and surveillance: a multi-center study (2U01CA210170-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10526649. Licensed CC0.

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