Trial Information

Pancreatic Cyst DNA Analysis

The study of pancreatic diseases is hindered by the organ's deep seated location and
especially lack of symptoms during the early stages of disease development and progression
e.g. pancreatic cancer. This is particularly true of pancreatic cysts, the variety and the
malignant potential of which encompass a broad spectrum. The radiological features
distinguishing a benign from a pre-malignant to a frankly malignant cyst in the pancreas are
frequently underwhelming and have lead to the clinical practice of sampling all but the most
obvious. The yield of the aspirate in turn is frequently not of a quality upon which a
clinical decision can be based.

Most would agree that the best approach for management of pancreatic cystic neoplasm lies in
early diagnosis, ideally at a precancerous stage. The effectiveness and applicability of
this study is the based on the ability of the cyst DNA analysis to stratify the patients at
risk of developing pancreatic cancer based on the extent of accumulated mutational damage.