Biomarkers for the early detection of pancreatic cancer are urgently needed. However, individual molecules with the sensitivity and specificity needed for population-based screening have not been discovered. CA-19-9 has been studied extensively and yet has failed to demonstrate the predictive value necessary for early detection and diagnosis. Although many platforms, including proteomic, genomic and transcriptomic approaches have been utilized and biomarker candidates identified, no one platform or molecule has been successfully validated in large population screens. As a part of the National Cancer Institute Early Detection Research Network, we are taking a targeted approach to assemble a panel of biomarker candidates, given that no one biomarker has shown promise for early detection. We hypothesize that a panel of early detection biomarkers for pancreatic cancer could be discovered by the identification of the earliest genetic pathways aberrant in pancreatic cancer. We furthermore hypothesize that genetic pathways involving tumor suppressor genes with loss of function mutations/deletions and dominantly activated/amplified/over expressed oncogenes are critical determinants in the development of the early phases of pancreatic neoplasia. Project 1 is utilizing a functional genomics approach toward biomarker discovery and is targeting the chromosome 3p12 pathway to tumorigenesis in pancreatic cancer. Three separate expression platforms have been utilized to develop a panel of genes differentially expressed in pancreatic tumor/normal samples and which represent potential genes in the 3p pathway as well as a novel tumor suppressor/polarity regulator DEAR1 is being characterized as a pancreatic cancer biomarker. Project 2 is examining copy number altered genes and miRNAs as early detection biomarkers utilizing an integrated functional genomics and pathway network analysis approach. Project 3 is examining a panel of 1,536 SNPs and relevant covariates in 1000 pancreatic cancer patients to develop a risk model to identify those individuals most likely to develop pancreatic cancer at an early age and could be stratified for screening using biomarker panels developed in projects one and two.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project--Cooperative Agreements (U01)
Project #
5U01CA111302-07
Application #
8130791
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZCA1-SRLB-C (M1))
Program Officer
Rinaudo, Jo Ann S
Project Start
2004-09-28
Project End
2015-06-30
Budget Start
2011-07-01
Budget End
2012-06-30
Support Year
7
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$597,485
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Department
Genetics
Type
Other Domestic Higher Education
DUNS #
800772139
City
Houston
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
77030
Balasenthil, Seetharaman; Huang, Ying; Liu, Suyu et al. (2017) A Plasma Biomarker Panel to Identify Surgically Resectable Early-Stage Pancreatic Cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst 109:
Wang, Jin; Chen, Jinyun; Sen, Subrata (2016) MicroRNA as Biomarkers and Diagnostics. J Cell Physiol 231:25-30
Chen, Jinyun; Wu, Xifeng; Huang, Yujing et al. (2016) Identification of genetic variants predictive of early onset pancreatic cancer through a population science analysis of functional genomic datasets. Oncotarget 7:56480-56490
Haab, Brian B; Huang, Ying; Balasenthil, Seetharaman et al. (2015) Definitive Characterization of CA 19-9 in Resectable Pancreatic Cancer Using a Reference Set of Serum and Plasma Specimens. PLoS One 10:e0139049
Wang, Jin; Paris, Pamela L; Chen, Jinyun et al. (2015) Next generation sequencing of pancreatic cyst fluid microRNAs from low grade-benign and high grade-invasive lesions. Cancer Lett 356:404-9
Smith, Jill P; Whitcomb, David C; Matters, Gail L et al. (2015) Distribution of cholecystokinin-B receptor genotype between patients with pancreatic cancer and controls and its impact on survival. Pancreas 44:236-42
Wang, Jin; Yin, Hailin; Panandikar, Ashwini et al. (2015) Elevated cyclin A associated kinase activity promotes sensitivity of metastatic human cancer cells to DNA antimetabolite drug. Int J Oncol 47:782-90
Liu, Qian; Chen, Jinyun; Wang, Jin et al. (2014) Putative tumor suppressor gene SEL1L was downregulated by aberrantly upregulated hsa-mir-155 in human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Mol Carcinog 53:711-21
Qi, Jia-Hui; Wang, Jin; Chen, Jinyun et al. (2014) High-resolution melting analysis reveals genetic polymorphisms in microRNAs confer hepatocellular carcinoma risk in Chinese patients. BMC Cancer 14:643
Chen, Nanyue; Balasenthil, Seetharaman; Reuther, Jacquelyn et al. (2014) DEAR1, a novel tumor suppressor that regulates cell polarity and epithelial plasticity. Cancer Res 74:5683-9

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