Differential diagnosis of pancreatic tumors by molecular analysis of clinical specimens.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the capabilities and limitations of the current state of the art in pancreatic cancer diagnostics and to discuss recent progress in the development of novel, highly accurate molecular diagnostic approaches.


RESULTS
Molecular analyses currently under evaluation as novel diagnostic tests include detection of point mutations, genomic imbalances, aberrant methylation patterns and gene expression changes on the mRNA and protein levels in pancreatic juice, fine needle aspiration biopsies and brush cytologies.


CONCLUSIONS
In exploratory studies, several candidate molecular markers show great potential to serve as general indicators of malignancy, but need to be validated in large, controlled, prospective studies. Multiplexing of diagnostic tests, e.g. in the form of specialized DNA microarrays, may provide more differentiated diagnoses such as the distinction of various tumor types or prognostic information for individual patients. The MolDiag-Paca consortium is strongly engaged in advancing these developments on a European level.
Buchholz
Malte
M
Division of Gastroenterology, University Hospital, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
Kestler
Hans
H
Gress
Thomas M
TM
D015415:Biomarkers; D006801:Humans; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D015415:Biomarkers