PANcreatic CAncer Initial Detection via liquid biopsy

PANCAID researchers from the Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research at UKE, Hamburg have just published a systematic review in The European Journal of Health Economics, exploring the cost-effectiveness of early detection strategies for pancreatic cancer. A review directly liked to our Work Package 4.

Early detection is often cited as a game-changer in cancer care, but are the strategies, especially in pancreatic cancer, also economically viable? This new publication synthesizes data from 31 studies evaluating various screening and surveillance approaches in high-risk groups. The review found that while some early detection methods appear cost-effective, methodological inconsistencies and reporting gaps complicate definitive conclusions.

Key findings include:

• → Most studies focused on individuals with elevated pancreatic cancer risk (e.g., those with precancerous lesions)
• → Imaging modalities mostly consisted of endoscopic ultrasound, MRI, and CT
• → Results varied: six studies deemed early detection cost-effective, while others were inconclusive or mixed
• → Inconsistent evaluation frameworks highlight the need for more robust and standardized economic analyses

📄 Read the full article here: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10198-025-01793-4
📚 Citation: Wittram R, Kreis L, König HH, Brettschneider C. Economic evaluations of early detection strategies for pancreatic cancer: a systematic review. Eur J Health Econ. 2025.

A new publication from the members of PANCAID offers new insights into how the gut metabolome can help distinguish autoimmune pancreatitis from chronic pancreatitis, two diseases with overlapping clinical symptoms but vastly different treatments and outcomes.

Using mass spectrometry-based global metabolomics, researchers identified key metabolic differences, including new potential biomarkers. Especially promising seem:

• Enterolactone
• 4-guanidinobutanoic acid
• Methylthioadenosine sulfoxide

The study also found significant shifts in metabolic pathways related to fatty acids, alkaloids, amino acids, and peptides.

These findings could pave the way toward non-invasive, biomarker-based diagnostic tools for pancreatic diseases, aligning with PANCAID’s broader goal of improving early detection strategies.

👉 Read the full publication here.

Authors: Vladyslav Dovhalyuk, Fan Yang, Sara Nikolic, Miroslav Vujasinovic, Matthias Löhr, Daniel Globisch
Contributing PANCAID parners: Uppsala University and Karolinska Institutet.

We’re proud to announce that Prof. Klaus Pantel, coordinator of PANCAID, has been invited as a speaker at the international conference “Poor Prognosis Cancers: From Resignation to Revolution”, held under the #G7Cancer initiative.

📍 Urban Station, Paris
📅 June 26, 2025
🕚 11:50 AM – Talk Title:
“Early diagnosis and detection of minimally residual disease in pancreatic cancer using liquid biopsy”

Organised by the Institut national du cancer (INCa) and NCC Japan, this high-level event brings together leading experts to address the most urgent challenges in oncology, particularly cancers with the poorest prognoses, like pancreatic cancer.

PANCAID is proud to contribute to this global dialogue and promote collaboration, innovation, and translational research that can improve early detection and patient outcomes in pancreatic cancer.

🔗 More information and registration