Detecting a Gene for Pancreatic Cancer in Blood
Author Information
Author(s): Kuroki T, Tomioka T, Tajima Y, Inoue K, Ikematsu Y, Ichinose K, Furui J, Kanematsu T
Primary Institution: Nagasaki University School of Medicine
Hypothesis
Can the pancreas-specific gene chymotrypsinogen be detected in the blood of patients with pancreatic carcinoma?
Conclusion
The study found that the chymotrypsinogen gene can be detected in the blood of many patients with pancreatic carcinoma, suggesting it could be a useful diagnostic marker.
Supporting Evidence
- 70% of patients with pancreatic carcinoma tested positive for the chymotrypsinogen gene.
- No pancreas-specific gene was found in patients with acute or chronic pancreatitis or in control subjects.
- The gene was detected at a concentration of one pancreatic cell per 1,000,000 blood cells.
Takeaway
Doctors can find a special gene in the blood of people with pancreatic cancer, which might help them diagnose the disease earlier.
Methodology
The study used reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to detect the chymotrypsinogen gene in blood samples from patients.
Participant Demographics
The study included 10 patients with pancreatic carcinoma, 2 with acute pancreatitis, 3 with chronic pancreatitis, and 10 control subjects.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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