Asuragen announces data from microRNA biomarker study on pancreatic cancer

Asuragen, Inc. announced today that data from a collaborative study with Johns Hopkins regarding microRNA biomarkers for use on pancreatic cyst fluid specimens was presented at the American Pancreatic Association Annual Meeting being held November 2-5, 2011 in Chicago.

Approximately 3% of the US population harbors an asymptomatic pancreatic cyst. Most of those cysts are benign and can be managed conservatively by watchful waiting. However, some, such as intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs), represent precursors of pancreatic cancer. Patients with high grade (HG) dysplasia IPMN need to undergo immediate resection, as do patients with other, less common cyst entities, such as solid pseudopapillary neoplasms (SPNs) and cystic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). Currently it is challenging to accurately identify the specific cyst entity and predict the grade of dysplasia without resection and precise histopathologic examination.

Asuragen, in collaboration with Anirban Maitra, M.D., of the Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine identified a 9-miRNA model that predicts a probability that a cyst is at risk for malignant transformation and therefore should be surgically removed. In a blinded validation study using 50 histologically confirmed pancreatic cyst fluid specimens, this 9-miRNA model showed a sensitivity of 89% and specificity of 100% in distinguishing low risk lesions (SCAs, LG IPMNs) from high risk lesions (HG IPMNs, NETs and SPNs). In addition, it stratified a group of intermediate grade (IG) IPMNs into the low and higher risk categories. This 9-miRNA signature will be validated in a larger study using prospectively collected EUS FNA specimens to establish its clinical application toward stratification of patients with pancreatic cysts for surgical intervention or watchful waiting.