The Florida Pancreas Collaborative Next-Generation Biobank: Infrastructure to Reduce Disparities and Improve Survival for a Diverse Cohort of Patients with Pancreatic Cancer

Abstract

Background: Well-annotated, high-quality biorepositories provide a valuable platform to support translational research. However, most biorepositories have poor representation of minority groups, limiting the ability to address health disparities. Methods: We describe the establishment of the Florida Pancreas Collaborative (FPC), the first state-wide prospective cohort study and biorepository designed to address the higher burden of pancreatic cancer (PaCa) in African Americans (AA) compared to Non-Hispanic Whites (NHW) and Hispanic/Latinx (H/L). We provide an overview of stakeholders; study eligibility and design; recruitment strategies; standard operating procedures to collect, process, store, and transfer biospecimens, medical images, and data; our cloud-based data management platform; and progress regarding recruitment and biobanking. Results: The FPC consists of multidisciplinary teams from fifteen Florida medical institutions. From March 2019 through August 2020, 350 patients were assessed for eligibility, 323 met inclusion/exclusion criteria, and 305 (94%) enrolled, including 228 NHW, 30 AA, and 47 H/L, with 94%, 100%, and 94% participation rates, respectively. A high percentage of participants have donated blood (87%), pancreatic tumor tissue (41%), computed tomography scans (76%), and questionnaires (62%). Conclusions: This biorepository addresses a critical gap in PaCa research and has potential to advance translational studies intended to minimize disparities and reduce PaCa-related morbidity and mortality.

Comparison of Radiomic Features in a Diverse Cohort of Patients With Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinomas

“…Future prospective multicenter studies involving racially diverse cohorts of PDAC cases will be needed to continue to move PDAC disparities research forward. We plan to optimize and validate the most promising radiomic features and biomarkers in an independent cohort of AA PC cases using our multi-institutional Florida Pancreas Collaborative infrastructure ( 49 ). Furthermore, we plan to conduct a radiogenomic approach that integrates CT radiomic data with molecular biomarker data from pancreatic tumor tissue in order to uncover biological mechanisms to explain the disproportionate PDAC burden in AA.…”

Potential of artificial intelligence in the risk stratification for and early detection of pancreatic cancer

“…To better understand the natural history of PDAC in the setting of new-onset diabetes (NOD), a prospective trial is recruiting participants to investigate the incident rate of PDAC in those with new-onset hyperglycemia and diabetes, wherein patients considered to be at the highest risk of harboring an occult (asymptomatic) PDAC will undergo abdominal imaging [ 36 ] . Another example of a large cohort of patients who are being followed for incident PDAC and treatment outcomes includes the Florida Pancreas Collaborative, which has created biorepositories, including blood, CT scans, and tissue samples from 15 institutions in Florida to address PDAC disparities [ 37 ] . These cohort-building efforts, aligned with risk prediction models [ Table 3 ], are aimed at improving risk assessment, as well as biomarker discovery and validation.…”

Catchment Area: An Opportunity for Collective Impact, Strategic Collaboration, and Complementary Focus

“…This approach has resulted in the creation of novel partnerships to address statewide needs such as pancreatic cancer disparities. 9 Similar efforts are underway in Texas with conscious documentation of opportunities for coordinated investment and sharing of metrics. As a result of COE requirements, most centers have a clear process to continually engage with community organizations and partners to understand local needs and priorities.…”