Pitt-developed genetic test for pancreatic cancer outperforms current guidelines

PITTSBURGH, Oct. 5, 2022 — A molecular test called PancreaSeq accurately classifies pancreatic cysts as potentially cancerous or benign, according to a large, multi-center study led by University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and UPMC researchers.

Published today in Gastroenterology, the prospective study of more than 1,800 patients found that incorporating molecular markers improved the accuracy of diagnoses compared with current guidelines based on imaging of cysts.

“Based on the results of this study, molecular testing of pancreatic cysts is poised to enter international consensus guidelines for the diagnosis of pancreatic cysts and early detection of pancreatic cancer,” said co-senior author Aatur Singhi, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of pathology at Pitt and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center investigator. “Our hope is that PancreaSeq will not only improve early detection of pancreatic cancer but also avoid overtreatment and unnecessary surgery of non-cancerous cysts.”

Up to 15% of the U.S. population will develop a pancreatic cyst at some point in their lives. Most of these cysts are benign, but a small fraction will transform into cancer.

“Although rare, pancreatic cancer is a deadly disease: Most patients will die within a few years of diagnosis,” said Singhi. “The only way we can improve outcomes for pancreatic cancer is to find better treatments or detect it earlier. Here at UPMC, our focus has been addressing both of these issues, and especially improving early-stage detection efforts.”

Pitt developed PancreaSeq, which accurately distinguishes benign cysts from those that could become cancerous by sequencing 22 pancreatic cyst-associated genes.

To capture the true population of pancreatic cyst patients and confirm that PancreaSeq can be applied in a clinical setting, the new multi-center study included 1,832 patients from 31 institutions. Using a prospective study design, the researchers analyzed molecular markers in pancreatic cyst fluid collected from patients and followed their outcomes for two years.

Pancreatic cysts can be broadly categorized as non-mucinous, which are benign, and mucinous, which have the potential to give rise to pancreatic cancer.

Based on mutations in genes called KRAS and GNAS, PancreaSeq diagnosed mucinous cysts accurately in 90% of cases, making it a highly sensitive test. It did not identify any false positives, meaning that it had a specificity of 100%.

“There is a very low likelihood of mucinous cysts giving rise to cancer, but accurately identifying this type of cyst is important because it gives us a window of opportunity to monitor patients and prevent pancreatic cancer from developing,” said Singhi.

Among mucinous cysts, the test accurately identified those that had advanced to cancer in 88% of cases and with a specificity of 98%. When the researchers included another type of analysis — evaluation of cells under the microscope for cancer-associated changes — the test sensitivity improved to 93% and specificity remained high at 95%.

The test also performed well in detecting non-mucinous cysts and another type of lesion called pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Also known as PanNETs, these tumors are usually benign, but can be lethal if they metastasize to other parts of the body.

“This study lays the foundation for developing prognostic biosignatures for PanNETs so that we can identify which tumors will metastasize and which won’t,” said Singhi.

Current guidelines for assessing whether a pancreatic cyst is cancerous mostly rely on imaging of features such as size and growth rate. The researchers found that PancreaSeq distinguished different types of cysts with higher accuracy than traditional forms of surveillance and current pancreatic cyst guidelines.

According to Singhi, the findings from this study will inform international consensus guidelines for treatment of pancreatic cysts, adding molecular testing to forthcoming updated recommendations.

“This test developed at UPMC is going to make a big difference in how we classify and manage patients moving forward,” said Singhi. “Our hope is that PancreaSeq prevents overtreatment but at the same time doesn’t miss pancreatic cancer.”

An expanded version of PancreaSeq that includes a broader array of biomarkers is now available to patients both within the U.S. and internationally. Samples are collected at local centers and are sent to UPMC for testing and analysis. The researchers are now applying for broad insurance coverage, which they hope to have approved by the end of the year.

Other authors who contributed to the study include co-senior author Marina N. Nikiforova, M.D., of UPMC; co-lead authors Alessandro Paniccia, M.D., and Abigail I. Wald, Ph.D., both of UPMC; Patricio M. Polanco, M.D., of the University of Texas Southwestern; and Brian A. Boone, M.D., West Virginia University; and others listed in the Gastroenterology paper.

This study was supported by the National Cancer Institute (1R37CA263622 and 3U01CA200466), the Department of Defense (W81XWH-20-PCARP-TRPA), the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, The Western PA Chapter of the National Pancreas Foundation, Sky Foundation, Inc. and the Pittsburgh Liver Research Center at the University of Pittsburgh (P30DK120531).

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About the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
As one of the nation’s leading academic centers for biomedical research, the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine integrates advanced technology with basic science across a broad range of disciplines in a continuous quest to harness the power of new knowledge and improve the human condition. Driven mainly by the School of Medicine and its affiliates, Pitt has ranked among the top recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health since 1998. In rankings released by the National Science Foundation, Pitt is in the upper echelon of all American universities in total federal science and engineering research and development support.

Likewise, the School of Medicine is equally committed to advancing the quality and strength of its medical and graduate education programs, for which it is recognized as an innovative leader, and to training highly skilled, compassionate clinicians and creative scientists well-equipped to engage in world-class research. The School of Medicine is the academic partner of UPMC, which has collaborated with the University to raise the standard of medical excellence in Pittsburgh and to position health care as a driving force behind the region’s economy. For more information about the School of Medicine, see www.medschool.pitt.edu.

About UPMC Hillman Cancer Center 
UPMC Hillman Cancer Center connects patients to the integrated expertise of leading clinicians, academic researchers, specialty programs and treatment centers. By partnering with the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in the region, is accelerating the breakthroughs from the lab to clinical practice around the world. UPMC - nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report for excellence in cancer care - has more than 70 cancer treatment locations throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York and Maryland as well as centers in Ireland and Italy. Backed by the collective strength of UPMC, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center provides leading-edge treatments and the latest in clinical investigations to transform cancer research, care and prevention—one patient at a time. 

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