Circulating tumor DNA as specific biomarkers for early diagnosis and prognosis of pancreatic cancer

Abstract

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is considered one of the most aggressive cancers with high mortality and low 5-year survival rate. This is mainly due to its late detection. Complex anatomical location creates certain difficulties for imaging and puncture biopsy methods, while standard tumor markers do not have high sensitivity and specificity. Thus, the search for specific biomarkers for early diagnosis and prognosis of the disease, as well as monitoring patients with pancreatic cancer during treatment, is a priority to improve patient survival in this terminal disease. Liquid biopsy, which has recently gained a lot of attention including the study of free-circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in plasma or serum, is a promising additional method of research. In this review, we will consider the latest findings from the ctDNA study as early and prognostic biomarkers for pancreatic cancer and monitoring the disease during treatment.