Longitudinal multi-omics monitoring paves the way for early pancreatic cancer diagnosis

A new case report published in the peer-reviewed OMICS: A Journal of Integrative Biology describes how longitudinal multi-omics monitoring (LMOM) helped to detect a precancerous pancreatic tumor and led to a successful surgical intervention. 

The patient had undergone annual blood-based LMOM, in which 143 endogenous metabolites in serum and a panel of 140 proteins in plasma were measured. David Wishart, PhD, from the University of Alberta, and coauthors, reported that three to four years after annual LMOM had begun, dramatic changes in the metabolomics and proteomics results prompted further clinical diagnostic testing for pancreatic cancer. A 2.6 cm lesion was detected in the tail of the patient's pancreas. 

"This case report illustrates the potentials of blood LMOM for precision/personalized medicine, and new ways of thinking medical innovation for a potentially life-saving early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer," stated the investigators.

Longitudinal multi-omics monitoring offers promise for systems medicine and warrants translational research for early detection and clinical management of pancreatic cancer."

Vural Özdemir MD, PhD, DABCP, MA, Editor-in-Chief , OMICS