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Updated: Mar 28, 2026
08:16
Mimicking and Manipulating Pancreatic Acinar-to-Ductal Metaplasia in 3-dimensional Cell Culture
Published on: February 11, 2019
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KRAS mutations in pancreatic circulating tumor cells: a pilot study.
Birte Kulemann1, Andrew S Liss2, Andrew L Warshaw2
1Department of Surgery, University of Freiburg Medical Center, Hugstetter Str. 55, D-79106, Freiburg, Germany. birte.kulemann@uniklinik-freiburg.de.
Summary
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are frequently detected in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients. CTC KRAS mutation status, not presence alone, may serve as a significant prognostic marker for improved survival.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) often presents at a metastatic stage, with circulating tumor cells (CTCs) suspected in systemic spread.
- Evaluating CTCs for prognostic significance is crucial for understanding PDAC progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize CTCs in PDAC patients.
- To assess the prognostic value of CTCs and their molecular markers, including KRAS mutations.
Main Methods:
- Blood samples from PDAC patients and healthy donors were filtered using ScreenCell® devices for CTC isolation.
- Immunofluorescence was used to detect epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers (ZEB1) and epithelial antigens (cytokeratin).
- KRAS mutation status in CTCs was analyzed molecularly.
Main Results:
- CTCs were detected in 86% of PDAC patients (18/21), including early and late stages, but not in controls (p < 0.001).
- ZEB1 expression was associated with established metastases but not overall survival.
- Patients with CTC KRAS mutations exhibited significantly better survival (19.4 months) compared to those with wild-type KRAS (7.4 months, p=0.015).
Conclusions:
- ScreenCell filtration effectively detects CTCs in PDAC patients.
- While CTC presence alone is not a negative prognostic factor, molecular characterization, specifically KRAS mutation status, shows promise as a valuable prognostic marker in PDAC.
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