# Endoscopic Fine-Needle Light Scattering Spectroscopy for Pancreatic Cyst Diagnosis and Evaluation of Malignant Potential

> **NIH NIH R01** · BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER · 2024 · $637,971

## Abstract

Project Summary
In this application we propose to develop the endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-
FNA) compatable optical diagnostic system that can determine the cellular composition of pancreatic
cysts in vivo and identify cystic lesions with early stage cancer features. Pancreatic cancer is the 3rd
leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, surpassing breast cancer. With a median
survival of 3 months, it has the highest mortality rate of all major cancers. The poor prognosis of
pancreatic cancer is due in large part to the inability to detect this cancer at an early stage, when the
option of a curative surgical resection is still possible. It is estimated that 8 million Americans have
pancreatic cystic lesions. Pancreatic cysts are the only readily identifiable precursors of pancreatic
cancer. Most commonly, these asymptomatic cysts are found incidentally when MRI/CT imaging is
performed for other purposes and then monitored with these imaging techniques for interval growth since
about 1 in 10 cysts have malignant potential. While CT and MRI could be used to screen for cystic
lesions, they have poor accuracy with regard to distinguishing cancerous and pre-cancerous cysts from
benign cysts. Currently, there is no accurate diagnostic technique that can distinguish cancerous and
pre-cancerous cysts from benign cysts, resulting in dire consequences, including the development of
cancer in cysts thought to be benign, or unnecessary pancreatic surgery for benign cysts, often with
significant morbidity and mortality. Thus, there is a critical need for a new diagnostic approach that
accurately identifies those pancreatic cysts that require surgical intervention and those that do not.
Recently we introduced a new diagnostic technology based on light scattering spectroscopy (LSS) that
identifies the malignant potential of pancreatic cystic lesions during routine diagnostic minimally invasive
EUS-FNA procedures. It employs a spatial gating contact probe that fits into a standard aspiration needle
and samples a fraction of the internal surface of the cyst forward hemisphere in approximately 2 minutes.
To improve accuracy and ensure clinical acceptance of the technique developing an articulating fiber
probe with an optical feedback capable of rapid automated data collection would be a significant
advance. Our preliminary results are very encouraging, indicating that the proposed technology could be
a tremendous aid in identifying both precursor lesions and early stage pancreatic cancers.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10981050
- **Project number:** 2R01EB025173-05
- **Recipient organization:** BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Lev T Perelman
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $637,971
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2017-09-30 → 2028-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10981050

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10981050, Endoscopic Fine-Needle Light Scattering Spectroscopy for Pancreatic Cyst Diagnosis and Evaluation of Malignant Potential (2R01EB025173-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10981050. Licensed CC0.

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