Liver Metastasis Risk and Timing in Pancreatic Cancer Patients Using Electronic Health Records

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Gastroenterology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Liver metastasis is a major cause of mortality in pancreatic cancer patients.
• Early detection and risk factor identification are crucial for improving patient outcomes.
• Understanding the timing of liver metastasis can enhance treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify clinical and demographic risk factors for liver metastasis in pancreatic cancer.
• To analyze the timing of liver metastasis development in relation to pancreatic cancer diagnosis.
• To explore potential protective factors and high-risk indicators for liver metastasis.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of a large cohort of 12,955 incident pancreatic cancer patients from the Truveta platform.
• Logistic and Cox regression models were used to analyze risk factors and time to liver metastasis.
• Patients were categorized into baseline (≤30 days) and post-baseline (>30 days) metastasis groups.

Main Results:

• 37% of patients developed liver metastasis within one year; 70% had metastasis at baseline.
• Risk factors included male sex, older age, Type 2 diabetes, depression, obesity, anemia, abdominal pain, and prior distant metastasis.
• Black or African American and Hispanic or Latino patients had lower odds of liver metastasis. Surgery and radiotherapy were protective in subgroup analysis.

Conclusions:

• Key clinical and demographic risk factors for liver metastasis in pancreatic cancer were identified.
• Real-world data and analysis of disease progression timing are vital for pancreatic cancer research.
• Findings highlight opportunities for earlier intervention and personalized care in pancreatic cancer management.