Early detection markers in Pancreas Cancer

The role of early detection in cancer has shown improved survival for certain cancers, including colon cancer, cervical cancer and breast cancer. The possibility for early detection of pancreatic cancer may be realized by an improved understanding of the histology and molecular genetics of precursor lesions and cancerous lesions in pancreatic cancer and the development of sensitive and specific screening tests (both invasive and non-invasive) to detect early pancreatic cancer. The NIH-NCI Early Detection Research Network (EDRN) in Pancreatic Cancer has been focussed on the development and validation of new biomarkers for the detection of early pancreatic cancer. This review will focus on our understanding of the histologic and molecular model of pancreatic carcinogenesis, current strategies and limitations of screening for pancreatic cancer and the development and validation of new biomarkers for the early detection of pancreatic cancer.