Pancreatic Cancer: Biomarker Testing
What are pancreatic cancer biomarkers?
Biomarkers are substances in blood, tumor or other tissue that can give doctors clues for treating cancer. Testing for are performed in a lab. tests that are performed on blood are sometimes called liquid biopsies. The results may help doctors understand:
- how fast the cancer is growing
- which treatments are most likely to work
- whether or not the cancer is responding to treatment or growing
- whether or not the cancer has come back after remission
tests may be used to select treatments, and help patients avoid side effects from treatments that will not work for them. tests used to select a specific treatment are sometimes called companion diagnostic tests. These tests may be done on tumor tissue or (in some cases) on blood. See our Testing section for more information.
Biomarkers for treatment selection
Examples of tests used for pancreatic cancer include:
- Some pancreatic cancers will have an abnormality known as (microsatellite instability-high or MSI-H) or a related abnormality known as "" ( or ). MSI-H and cancers are common in people with a gene mutation. These cancers may respond well to a type of treatment known as an immune checkpoint inhibitor. Examples of agents used for MSI-H cancers are Jemperli (dostarlimab) and Keytruda (pembrolizumab).
- Pancreatic cancers with a known as an NRG1 gene fusion may be treated with Bezengri (zenocutuzumab-zbco).
- tumors may respond to treatment with Enhertu (trastuzumab deruxtecan).
- Tumors that test positive for a RET gene fusion may respond to the drug Retevmo (selpercatinib).
- A known as an NTRK fusion can predict who might benefit from the Vitrakvi (larotrectinib).
- Additional tumor testing may help people learn if they are eligible for certain clinical trials.
Biomarkers to monitor recurrence or response to treatment
CA19-9 is a type of protein that is produced in large amounts by some pancreatic cancers. Doctors may use CA19-9 blood tests monitor recurrence or response to treatment.
Clinical trials are studying whether other blood tests known as liquid biopsies can be used to detect recurrence in people who have completed treatment for pancreatic cancer. These tests check the blood for abnormal from tumor cells (known as circulating tumor or ).
Genetic testing for inherited mutations to guide treatment selection
All people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer should be offered genetic testing for an . Genetic test results may be used to guide treatment selection.
- People who test positive for an inherited or mutation may respond better to a treatment regimen that includes a type of chemotherapy known as platinum. They may also benefit from with a type of known as a .
- People who test positive for other inherited gene mutations may qualify for clinical trials looking at targeted therapies.
- People who test positive for a gene mutation may benefit from treatment with an agent.
- People who test positive for a gene mutation may benefit from treatment with an agent.
Study : FDA approves new targeted therapy for advanced pancreatic cancer
A new treatment called Bizengri has been approved by the FDA for patients with advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer. This treatment targets pancreatic cancer or...
Participate in Pancreatic Cancer Treatment Research
Below are some of our featured research studies looking at new treatments for pancreatic cancer treatment. To search for more studies, visit our Search and Enroll Tool.
Study of a New Investigational Inhibitor to Treat People with Advanced Solid Tumors
Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT05932862
Testing Higher Dose Radiation Therapy for Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer
Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT06958328
Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT06167317
Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT06115499