Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Pancreatic Cancer: An Analysis of the Blood Biomarker, -1,-2,3,-4-Tetrahydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrophenanthrene and Selected Metabolism Gene SNPs.

Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), byproducts of incomplete combustion, and their effects on the development of cancer are still being evaluated. Recent studies have analyzed the relationship between PAHs and tobacco or dietary intake in the form of processed foods and smoked/well-done meats. This study aims to assess the association of a blood biomarker and metabolite of PAHs, -1,-2,3,-4-tetrahydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrophenanthrene (PheT), dietary intake, selected metabolism SNPs, and pancreatic cancer.

A Randomized Trial of Two Remote Health Care Delivery Models on the Uptake of Genetic Testing and Impact on Patient-Reported Psychological Outcomes in Families With Pancreatic Cancer: The Genetic Education, Risk Assessment, and Testing (GENERATE) Study.

Background & Aims: Genetic testing uptake for cancer susceptibility in family members of patients with cancer is suboptimal. Among relatives of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), The GENetic Education, Risk Assessment, and TEsting (GENERATE) study evaluated 2 online genetic education/testing delivery models and their impact on patient-reported psychological outcomes.

Methods: Eligible participants had ≥1 first-degree relative with PDAC, or ≥1 first-/second-degree relative with PDAC with a known pathogenic germline variant in 1 of 13 PDAC predisposition genes.

Blood-based Migration Signature Biomarker Panel Discriminates Early Stage New Onset Diabetes related Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma from Type 2 Diabetes.

Background And Aims: While type 2 diabetes is a well-known risk factor for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), PDAC-induced new-onset diabetes (PDAC-NOD) is a manifestation of underlying PDAC. In this study, we sought to identify potential blood-based biomarkers for distinguishing PDAC-NOD from type 2 diabetes (T2DM) without PDAC.

Materials And Methods: By ELISA analysis, a migration signature biomarker panel comprising tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI), tenascin C (TNC-FNIII-C) and CA 19-9 was analyzed in plasma samples from 50 PDAC-NOD and 50 T2DM controls.

Risk of Syndrome-Associated Cancers Among First-Degree Relatives of Patients With Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma With Pathogenic or Likely Pathogenic Germline Variants.

Importance: Increased cancer risk in first-degree relatives of probands with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC probands) who carry pathogenic or likely pathogenic germline variants (PGVs) in cancer syndrome-associated genes encourages cascade genetic testing. To date, unbiased risk estimates for the development of cancers on a gene-specific basis have not been assessed.

Objective: To quantify the risk of development of PDAC and extra-PDAC among first-degree relatives of PDAC probands who carry a PGV in 1 of 9 cancer syndrome-associated genes-ATM, BRCA1, BRCA2, PALB2, MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2, and CDKN2A.

Tissue methylated DNA markers for sporadic pancreatic cancer are strongly associated with familial and genetically predisposed pancreatic cancer.

High-risk individuals (HRIs) with familial and genetic predisposition to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) are eligible for screening. There is no accurate biomarker for detecting early-stage PDAC. We previously demonstrated that a panel of methylated DNA markers (MDMs) accurately detect sporadic PDAC.

Discovery and Validation of Methylated DNA Markers From Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors.

Background And Aims: Methylated DNA markers (MDMs) accurately identify several different cancer types, but there are limited data for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs). We aimed to identify MDM candidates in tissue that differentiate pNETs from normal pancreas.

Methods: wUsing DNA from frozen normal pancreas (13) and pNET (51) tissues, we performed reduced representation bisulfite sequencing for MDM discovery.

A Pilot Study of Blood-Based Methylation Markers Associated With Pancreatic Cancer.

Over the past several decades in the United States, incidence of pancreatic cancer (PCa) has increased, with the 5-year survival rate remaining extremely low at 10.8%. Typically, PCa is diagnosed at an advanced stage, with the consequence that there is more tumor heterogeneity and increased probability that more cells are resistant to treatments.

Aspirin, Statins, Non-aspirin NSAIDs, Metformin, and the Risk of Biliary Cancer: A Swedish Population-Based Cohort Study.

Background: Chemoprevention for biliary tract cancers (BTC), which comprise intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA), extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (eCCA), and gallbladder cancer, is controversial. We examined associations between low-dose aspirin, statins, NSAIDs, and metformin with BTC risk.

Methods: We used a population-based cohort of 5.

Intact SMAD-4 is a predictor of increased locoregional recurrence in upfront resected pancreas cancer receiving adjuvant therapy.

Background: Previous reports suggest that intact SMAD4 expression is associated with a locally aggressive pancreas cancer phenotype. The objectives of this work were to determine the frequency of intact SMAD4 and its association with patterns of recurrence in patients with upfront resected pancreas cancer receiving adjuvant therapy.

Methods: A tissue microarray was constructed using resected specimens from patients who underwent upfront surgery and adjuvant gemcitabine with no neoadjuvant treatment for pancreas cancer.

A risk prediction tool for individuals with a family history of breast, ovarian, or pancreatic cancer: BRCAPANCPRO.

Introduction: Identifying families with an underlying inherited cancer predisposition is a major goal of cancer prevention efforts. Mendelian risk models have been developed to better predict the risk associated with a pathogenic variant of developing breast/ovarian cancer (with BRCAPRO) and the risk of developing pancreatic cancer (PANCPRO). Given that pathogenic variants involving BRCA2 and BRCA1 predispose to all three of these cancers, we developed a joint risk model to capture shared susceptibility.

Novel Models of Genetic Education and Testing for Pancreatic Cancer Interception: Preliminary Results from the GENERATE Study.

Up to 10% of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) carry underlying germline pathogenic variants in cancer susceptibility genes. The GENetic Education Risk Assessment and TEsting (GENERATE) study aimed to evaluate novel methods of genetic education and testing in relatives of patients with PDAC. Eligible individuals had a family history of PDAC and a relative with a germline pathogenic variant in , or genes.

A 584 bp deletion in CTRB2 inhibits chymotrypsin B2 activity and secretion and confers risk of pancreatic cancer.

Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have discovered 20 risk loci in the human genome where germline variants associate with risk of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) in populations of European ancestry. Here, we fine-mapped one such locus on chr16q23.1 (rs72802365, p = 2.

Risk of Pancreatic Cancer Among Individuals With Pathogenic Variants in the ATM Gene.

Importance: Pathogenic germline variants in the ATM gene have been associated with pancreatic cancer risk. Although genetic testing identifies these variants in approximately 1% to 3% of unselected patients with pancreatic cancer, the lifetime risk of pancreatic cancer among individuals with pathogenic ATM variants has not been well estimated.

Objective: To estimate age-specific penetrance of pancreatic cancer in individuals with a pathogenic variant in the ATM gene.

Large-scale cross-cancer fine-mapping of the 5p15.33 region reveals multiple independent signals.

Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified thousands of cancer risk loci revealing many risk regions shared across multiple cancers. Characterizing the cross-cancer shared genetic basis can increase our understanding of global mechanisms of cancer development. In this study, we collected GWAS summary statistics based on up to 375,468 cancer cases and 530,521 controls for fourteen types of cancer, including breast (overall, estrogen receptor [ER]-positive, and ER-negative), colorectal, endometrial, esophageal, glioma, head/neck, lung, melanoma, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate, and renal cancer, to characterize the shared genetic basis of cancer risk.

A rare germline CDKN2A variant (47T>G; p16-L16R) predisposes carriers to pancreatic cancer by reducing cell cycle inhibition.

Germline mutations in CDKN2A, encoding the tumor suppressor p16, are responsible for a large proportion of familial melanoma cases and also increase risk of pancreatic cancer. We identified four families through pancreatic cancer probands that were affected by both cancers. These families bore a germline missense variant of CDKN2A (47T>G), encoding a p16-L16R mutant protein associated with high cancer occurrence.

High Detection Rates of Pancreatic Cancer Across Stages by Plasma Assay of Novel Methylated DNA Markers and CA19-9.

Purpose: We have previously identified tissue methylated DNA markers (MDMs) associated with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). In this case-control study, we aimed to assess the diagnostic performance of plasma MDMs for PDAC.

Experimental Design: Thirteen MDMs (, and ) were identified on the basis of selection criteria applied to results of prior tissue experiments and assays were optimized in plasma.

Smoking Modifies Pancreatic Cancer Risk Loci on 2q21.3.

Germline variation and smoking are independently associated with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We conducted genome-wide smoking interaction analysis of PDAC using genotype data from four previous genome-wide association studies in individuals of European ancestry (7,937 cases and 11,774 controls). Examination of expression quantitative trait loci data from the Genotype-Tissue Expression Project followed by colocalization analysis was conducted to determine whether there was support for common SNP(s) underlying the observed associations.

A multilayered post-GWAS assessment on genetic susceptibility to pancreatic cancer.

Background: Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a complex disease in which both non-genetic and genetic factors interplay. To date, 40 GWAS hits have been associated with PC risk in individuals of European descent, explaining 4.1% of the phenotypic variance.

Accuracy of Smoking Status Reporting: Proxy Information in a Rapidly Fatal Cancer Setting.

Objective: To assess whether patients and relatives can serve as reliable proxy reporters of other family members' cigarette-smoking history.

Patients And Methods: Two samples (325 patients, 707 relatives) were identified from the Mayo Clinic Biospecimen Resource for Pancreas Research, enrolled from November, 6, 2000, to March 15, 2018. Smoking-history data, including categorical (ever/never) and quantitative (packs per day and years smoked) smoking measures, were obtained from self-completed questionnaires by patients and relatives.

Shorter Treatment-Naïve Leukocyte Telomere Length is Associated with Poorer Overall Survival of Patients with Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

Background: Critically shortened telomeres contribute to chromosomal instability and neoplastic transformation and are associated with early death of patients with certain cancer types. Shorter leukocyte telomere length (LTL) has been associated with higher risk for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and might be associated also with survival of patients with PDAC. We investigated the association between treatment-naïve LTL and overall survival of patients with incident PDAC.