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Associations Between Routinely Measured Biomarkers and Pancreatic Cancer Risk in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes
Ziying Zhang1, Sofia Carlsson2, Niklas Hammar2
1Comprehensive Cancer Centre, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, KCL-King's College London, London SE1 9RT, UK.
Cancers
|May 13, 2026
Summary
Higher alkaline phosphatase and lower creatinine levels are linked to increased pancreatic cancer risk in type 2 diabetes patients over 50. These common biomarkers may aid in early risk detection.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Oncology
- Clinical Chemistry
Background:
- Type 2 diabetes (T2D) increases pancreatic cancer (PC) risk.
- Limited early detection markers for PC in T2D patients exist.
- Routine serum biomarkers were investigated for PC risk association.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine associations between routinely measured serum biomarkers and subsequent pancreatic cancer risk.
- To identify potential early detection markers for PC in individuals with T2D.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of the Swedish AMORIS cohort (101,051 individuals ≥50 years with new T2D).
- Ten serum biomarkers assessed within ±1 year of diagnosis (primary) and broader windows (sensitivity).
- Multivariable Cox models adjusted for age and sex were used.
Main Results:
- Higher alkaline phosphatase (ALP) associated with increased PC risk (HR: 1.16).
- Higher creatinine associated with reduced PC risk (HR: 0.55).
- Haptoglobin showed a modest positive association with PC risk (HR: 1.20).
Conclusions:
- In older adults with new T2D, elevated ALP and reduced creatinine are independently linked to PC risk.
- Haptoglobin suggests a modest positive association with PC risk.
- Routine biomarkers like ALP and creatinine may support PC risk stratification in primary care.
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