Development of a New Diagnostic Modality for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC)

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a lethal malignancy, often diagnosed in advanced and inoperable stage. Diagnosis requires histologic confirmation, typically obtained through endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). These procedures are invasive and pose significant risks to patients. Recent discoveries in our lab have shown that shed cells from luminal washes carry information about their tissue of origin. This insight surpasses traditional biopsies in detecting conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This project aims to develop a new, less-invasive diagnostic approach for PDAC diagnosis. We plan to use the transcriptomic profiles of shed cells to identify PDAC, thus improving patient care by reducing the invasiveness of the diagnostic process.