Early Detection for Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is highly lethal yet potentially treatable when detected at an early stage. However, early-stage disease remains notoriously difficult to identify. Dr. Sheng Pan at UTHealth, in collaboration with colleagues, has developed a blood-based proteomic assay designed to enhance pancreatic cancer screening approaches. This technology holds promise for improving survival, particularly among high-risk populations through earlier detection and intervention.

Background

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the predominant form of pancreatic cancer, is the third leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States and the seventh worldwide, and it has a 5-year survival rate of ~13%, among the lowest observed in solid malignancies. A major contributor to this poor prognosis is the inability to detect PDAC at an early, potentially curable stage. Screening of high-risk individuals has been shown to reduce mortality, minimize complications, and improve quality of life. However, the only FDA-approved blood biomarker for PDAC detection, carbohydrate antigen CA 19-9, has limited diagnostic accuracy and is absent in approximately 5–10% of the population due to genetic deficiency. Therefore, a highly accurate blood-based screening assay is urgently needed to enable early detection of PDAC in high-risk populations and improve survival outcomes.

Significance and Impact

Dr. Sheng Pan at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, in collaboration with colleagues from Baylor College of Medicine, the University of Pittsburgh, and the University of Washington, has developed a noninvasive blood-based proteomic assay as a cost-effective and accurate screening tool for high-risk populations (e.g. adults aged ≥50 with new-onset diabetes, individuals with familial risks, and patients with pancreatitis). This novel assay integrates multiple proteomic biomarkers through an AI-driven approach, supported by histopathology, imaging, and clinical data from multi-center cohort studies. The biomarker panel captures functional alterations in the plasma proteome associated with PDAC. When combined with imaging modalities, this highly accurate blood-based test enables an effective strategy for early detection of PDAC in high-risk populations, reducing diagnostic delays in patients with nonspecific or absent symptoms and ultimately improving survival outcomes. The assay may also have utility in monitoring therapeutic response in patients with pancreatic cancer. 

Technology Highlights

• High diagnostic accuracy through multi-analyte integration: Combines multiple proteomic biomarkers using an AI-driven model, enabling sensitive and specific detection of early-stage PDAC beyond single-marker approaches.
• Noninvasive and cost-effective with clinical scalability: Utilizes a blood-based platform that can be readily integrated into routine clinical workflows, supporting broad implementation in high-risk population screening.
• Enhanced clinical decision-making and early intervention: When used alongside imaging, facilitates earlier detection in asymptomatic or nonspecific cases, reduces diagnostic delays, and supports monitoring of treatment response.

Related Publication:  Pan et al. BMC Cancer 26(1): 717 (2026)

Intellectual Property Status

Provisional application filed

Available for licensing

About the Inventors

Sheng Pan, Ph.D.

Professor, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston