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Updated: Feb 6, 2026

Author Spotlight: Advancing the Detection of Low-Frequency Mutations in Cancer Tissues
Published on: August 23, 2024
From somatic mutation to early detection: insights from molecular characterization of pancreatic cancer precursor
Catherine G Fischer1, Laura D Wood1,2
1Department of Pathology, Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Abstract:
Pancreatic cancer arises from noninvasive precursor lesions, including pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN), intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN), and mucinous cystic neoplasm (MCN), which are curable if detected early enough. Recently, these types of precursor lesions have been extensively characterized at the molecular level, defining the timing of critical genetic alterations in tumorigenesis pathways. The results of these studies deepen our understanding of tumorigenesis in the pancreas, providing novel insights into tumor initiation and progression. Perhaps more importantly, they also provide a rational foundation for early detection approaches that could allow clinical intervention prior to malignant transformation. In this review, we summarize the results of comprehensive molecular characterization of PanINs, IPMNs, and MCNs and discuss the implications for cancer biology as well as early detection. Copyright © 2018 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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