Determining risk for pancreatic cancer

February 25, 2009

Experimental technique safely differentiates patients with pancreatic cancer, precursor lesions and benign tumors

In the latest clinical trial for a technique to detect pancreatic cancer, researchers found they could differentiate cells that are cancerous from those that are benign, pre-cancerous, or even early stage indicators called mucinous cystic lesions.

Pancreatic cancer is dangerous to screen for, yet deadly if ignored. The pancreas is extremely sensitive--biopsies can lead to potentially fatal complications--but with few symptoms, the cancer is usually detected too late.

The disease is the fourth largest cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, with a five-year survival rate of less than 5 percent. If doctors can find ways to identify early precursor lesions, the disease can be prevented in most individuals.

Reporting online Feb. 10, 2009, in the journal Disease Markers, researchers from Northwestern University and Evanston Northwestern Healthcare report convincing results with their minimally invasive methods for detecting pancreatic cancer.

"This technique allows us to detect changes in cells that look normal using microscopy," says co-author Vadim Backman of Northwestern University. "This level of detail allows us to detect cancer in its earliest stages."

Their techniques, called four-dimensional elastic light scattering fingerprinting (4D-ELF) and low-coherence enhanced backscattering spectroscopy (LEBS), identify the cancer and its precursors by analyzing light reflected off cells in the duodenum, a section of the small intestine adjacent to the pancreas.

"I'm excited about this work," said Leon Esterowitz, the National Science Foundation (NSF) biophotonics program director who helped fund this study and the development of the 4D-ELF and LEBS technologies. "I believe these results are very promising, and the techniques have a high probability of success for not just detecting early pancreatic cancer, but pre-cancer, so doctors can go ahead and treat the patient while there's still a chance to defeat the disease." Esterowitz added. "For pancreatic cancer, this could lead to not only an excellent prognosis, but perhaps even a cure."

While earlier success had shown that the techniques could tell cancerous from non-cancerous tissue without resorting to a biopsy, the new study of 203 individuals was the first to show the method can identify various disease stages and risk factors, including a possible signature related to "family history."

The researchers' approach had a sensitivity of 95 percent for determining healthy tissue from cancerous tissue and appears to be the most successful yet developed for detecting pancreatic diseases at curable stages and for identifying high-risk individuals.

"These optical techniques have shown promise for detecting both colon and pancreatic cancer," says Backman. "Our hope is to continue to test the ability to detect other forms of cancer, which would greatly expand the impact of the technology." In ongoing work, the researchers will continue to refine their instrumentation and hope to validate the recent findings with further clinical trials.

National Science Foundation

---

---

	Pancreatic Cancer: A Patient and His Doctor Balance Hope and Truth (A Johns Hopkins Press Health Book) by Michael J. Lippe (Author), Dung T. Le (Author) Michael J. Lippe was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2007. This is his story, and the story of pancreatic cancer, narrated by Lippe and Dr. Dung T. Le, the physician who is treating him.In telling these stories, Lippe and Le alternate chapters. Lippe writes about the early signs that something was wrong; Le continues with a description of pancreatic cancer, its symptoms, and its treatments. Lippe talks about his prognosis, contemplates the prospect of death, and describes how he began to cope; Le explains the importance, for both doctor and patient, of balancing hope and truth. Lippe speaks frankly about the toll the disease takes on his marriage and family; Le offers a general picture of what most patients can expect with their illness. The book concludes with Lippe and Le’s...
	Pancreatic Cancer: It's a Family Affair by Lisa M Strahs-Lorenc (Author) This is not another book about cancer. The 22 contributors from 20 families who have contributed their stories, their feelings and their advice have done so in order to help others feel that they are not alone. They represent spouses, siblings, adult children and patients themselves. There are 4 survivors as of the writing of this book. In addition, all proceeds from the sale of this book will be going to the Lustgarten Foundation and the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network that offer support and research for an eventual cure of this deadly disease.
	Johns Hopkins Patients' Guide to Pancreatic Cancer (Johns Hopkins Medicine) by Nita Ahuja (Author), JoAnn Coleman (Author) The Johns Hopkins Patients Guide to Pancreatic Cancer is a concise, easy-to-follow how to guide that puts you on a path to wellness by explaining pancreatic cancer treatments from start to finish. It guides you through the overwhelming maze of treatment decisions, simplifies the complicated schedule that lies ahead, and provides valuable tools to help you to put together your plan of care. Empower yourself with accurate, understandable information that will give you the ability to confidently participate in the decision making about your care and treatment.
	100 Questions & Answers About Pancreatic Cancer, Second Edition by Eileen O'Reilly (Author), Joanne Frankel Kelvin (Author) Whether you re a newly diagnosed pancreatic cancer patient, a survivor, or a friend or relative of someone with pancreatic cancer, this book offers help. The only text to provide a doctor s and patient s view, 100 Questions & Answers About Pancreatic Cancer, Second Edition gives you authoritative, practical answers to your questions about treatment options, post-treatment quality of life, sources of support, and much more. The authors, a medical oncologist and a nurse with 25 years of experience with cancer patients, provide a comprehensive, step-by-step discussion of what you can expect in the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer, while patient commentaries provide a real-life understanding of what these steps might mean for your day-to-day life. This book is an invaluable...
	The Ride Of My Life: A Fight To Survive Pancreatic Cancer by Bob Brown (Author) Insightful, humorous, and inspiring memoir of self-described "regular guy" Bob Brown's courageous battle with pancreatic cancer and his journey through the medical community to save his life. In a conversational tone that feels like you're chatting with a lifelong friend, Bob shares the play-by-play of his fight to stay alive and make the right treatment decisions, affirms the difference a positive attitude can make, and celebrates the unexpected gift of a new perspective on life. What would you do upon hearing your doctor utter the words "inoperable pancreatic cancer"? If you or someone you love has been diagnosed, this amazing story of survival will move you, amuse you, and instill hope in your heart.
	Surviving: How We Loved Through Pancreatic Cancer by K. Blake Cash (Author) "Emma was still channeling Rocky Balboa, talking about how she was going to beat cancer. She defined survival as completely defeating the disease. I defined survival as weathering the storm with grace. She was so strong, surviving on the force of her will. But her body wasn't cooperating, no matter how hard her spirit fought" "Surviving" is the story of one couple's journey with cancer, from diagnosis to death, written by the surviving member of that couple, K. Blake Cash "Beautifully told . . . honest as an arrow" -author and humorist Barry Parham "a beautiful piece of work . . . I know in my heart that she is "out and about" watching over us even now" -Dr. Harish Lavu, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University
	Pancreatic Cancer (M.D. Anderson Solid Tumor Oncology Series) by Andrew M. Lowy (Editor), Steven D. Leach (Editor), Philip Philip (Editor) Since the previous M.D. Anderson Solid Tumor Oncology Series publication on pancreatic cancer, there have been major advances in our understanding of molecular events which underlie pancreatic cancer development, both in the sporadic and inherited forms. This book provides information on the recent progress and improvements. It brings to the forefront the most current advances that have been made in understanding pancreatic cancer development and successfully treating this disease.
	Defeat Cancer: 15 Doctors of Integrative & Naturopathic Medicine Tell You How by Connie Strasheim (Author), 13 Cancer Doctors (Author), Richard Linchitz MD (Introduction), Robert Rowen MD (Introduction) ONE-ON-ONE WITH 15 CANCER DOCTORS: If you traveled the world for appointments with fifteen cancer doctors, you would discover many of the cutting-edge treatments used to heal the body from cancer. You would also spend thousands of dollars on hotels, plane tickets, and medical appointment fees-not to mention the time that it would take to embark on such a journey. Even if you had the time and money to travel, would the physicians have enough time to answer all of your questions? Would you even know which questions to ask? In this long-awaited book, health care journalist Connie Strasheim has done all the work for you. She conducted intensive interviews with fifteen highly regarded doctors who specialize in cancer treatment, asking them thoughtful, important...
	What to Eat if You Have Cancer (revised): Healing Foods that Boost Your Immune System by Maureen Keane (Author), Daniella Chace (Author) Fuel your body to fight cancer Cancer and cancer treatment take a toll on your body, but you can help make cancer treatment more effective and reduce its unpleasant side effects with good nutrition. What to Eat if You Have Cancer presents the best foods to fight cancer and suggests ways to keep your body strong--knowledge you need to take control of your health. A vital resource for cancer patients, this revised edition contains new recipes, new menus, and the latest research on cancer and nutrition. With the help of What to Eat if You Have Cancer, you will learn The foods to eat and the foods to avoid in your fight with cancer The proper use of supplements in nutrition therapy How to create personalized meal plans to complement different types and phases...
	Pancreatic Cancer : A Simple Guide to Pancreatic cancer (Simple Solutions Presents) Pancreatic cancer is one of the ten fastest growing cancer in America and it is important to learn about because it is a silent killer. This is because at times it is difficult to ascertain if you have this type of cancer until it may be too late. This report contains an introduction to pancreatic cancer, risks involved, signs to look out for, and some natural preventative and corrective measures that you can take. This is a simple and straightforward guide that will give you a better understanding of this deadly disease.