For the first time, researchers find a way to spot early signs of pancreatic cancer on routine MRI
For the first time, researchers have been able to identify precursors to pancreatic cancer on routine MRI scans.
A team of experts from Champalimaud Research in Lisbon, Portugal shared their findings recently in the journal Investigative Radiology, where they detailed their use of diffusion tensor imaging techniques to uncover some of the earliest indications of the development of pancreatic cancer. The team believes their findings could revolutionize the early diagnosis and treatment of the disease, potentially resulting in improved survival rates.
Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers, with a five-year survival rate of only 44% if caught early, dropping down to 3% if it metastasizes. This is due, in part, to its ability to elude detection. Often, the disease is diagnosed in later stages because its symptoms, like abdominal pain, weight loss or jaundice, are not obvious until the cancer has progressed.
Most cases are pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC), which frequently develop from precursor lesions called PanINs (pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasias). Unfortunately, detecting PanINs noninvasively has been historically challenging.
“The absence of noninvasive diagnostic tools also prevents the investigation of PanIN's biology and tumorigenesis in humans, which remains largely unknown and mostly driven by research using genetically engineered mouse models and histopathological analyses,” research leader Noam Shemesh, head of the Preclinical MRI lab at Champalimaud Research, and colleagues explain. “Therefore, there is an urgent need for developing imaging methods for PanIN diagnosis and characterization, which could enable early diagnosis before PDAC is established.”
Diffusion tensor imaging, or DTI, is a technique typically used for brain imaging. DTI tracks the diffusion of water molecules through tissues, providing detailed images of microstructural changes. The team found evidence to suggest that these changes could signal the presence of PanINs.
The discovery was made after conducting MRI scans on a group of pancreatic tissue samples from mice prone to PanINs. When the DTI images were compared to tissue histology, the group observed precise matches between lesions detected on imaging and actual cellular changes. They then tested the method on human pancreatic tissue and confirmed its effectiveness in detecting PanINs.
“Our work represents a proof of concept and provides a basis to actually do a trial on humans, on patients with a method that is already basically implemented,” the group notes.
Considering the widespread availability of DTI, the results are promising. However, more research is needed to adapt the technique for routine clinical use, the group suggests. Future studies could explore combining DTI with tools like liquid biopsies or artificial intelligence to improve diagnostic accuracy.
The study abstract is available here.
In addition to her background in journalism, Hannah also has patient-facing experience in clinical settings, having spent more than 12 years working as a registered rad tech. She joined Innovate Healthcare in 2021 and has since put her unique expertise to use in her editorial role with Health Imaging.