Blood tests could spot pancreas cancer sooner
NCT ID NCT03568630
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study is following 1,250 people at higher risk for pancreas cancer, including those with new diabetes, pancreatic cysts, or a family history. Researchers will collect blood samples and health data twice a year for several years. The goal is to find early markers in the blood that could lead to faster diagnosis and better survival.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could lead to a blood test that catches pancreas cancer earlier, when it's more treatable.
- What could go wrong
- This is an observational study, not a treatment trial. It may take years to find reliable markers, and results might not apply to everyone.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Participants
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About 1,250 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Jul 2018
- Expected to finish
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Jul 2028
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
In order to obtain a resource of clinical data and longitudinally obtained, annotated blood specimens and to develop an enriched population to prospectively evaluate a sensitive and specific biomarker, subjects from the following 3 groups at higher than average risk of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) will be recruited and enrolled. New onset diabetes, high risk pre-diabetes Pancreatic cystic neoplasms and pancreatitis Familial risk
- Ages
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19 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥19 * Able to provide written, informed consent * Able to attend an in-person study visit in Omaha, NE twice a year to collect blood samples * Must also meet criteria for one specific cohort. Participants who meet criteria for more than one cohort are eligible. (The intent being that potential participants must meet the criteria for at least one cohort, but are eligible if criteria are met for more than one cohort) o New onset diabetes/high-risk pre-diabetes cohort: must meet one of the following criteria: New onset type 2 diabetes diagnosed within the past 3 years, defined as A1c ≥ 6.5%, fasting blood glucose \>126mg/dL confirmed on a subsequent day or as diagnosed by a physician High-risk pre-diabetes: A1c \>6.3% or A1c \>6.0% with fasting blood glucose \>110 or 2 hour oral glucose tolerance test between 140-200mg/dL, or taken metformin \<3 years o Pancreatic cystic neoplasm/pancreatitis cohort: must have one of the following diagnoses: Pancreatic cystic neoplasm for which resection, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) or serial imaging has been recommended Chronic pancreatitis as defined by cross-sectional imaging, endoscopic ultrasound, functional testing abnormalities OR as diagnosed by a gastroenterologist o Inherited risk cohort: must meet one of the following criteria: Two or more blood relatives with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), includes 1st-3rd degree relatives (First - parent, sibling or child; Second - grandparent, aunt/uncle, niece/nephew, or half-sibling; Third - first cousin, great grand parent or great grandchild) One 1st degree relative with PDAC diagnosed before age 60; Germline mutation associated with a higher than average risk of PDAC, including but not limited to: Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndromes (BRCA1, BRCA2, PALB2) Hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer (Lynch) syndrome (MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2) Familial adenomatous polyposis (APC) Familial atypical multiple melanoma and mole syndrome (CKDN2a, p16) Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (STK11) Ataxia-telangectasia (ATM) Juvenile polyposis syndromes (SMAD4, BMPR1A) Li Fraumeni (TP53) Cystic fibrosis and unaffected carriers (CFTR) Personal or family history which meets clinical criteria for a hereditary cancer syndrome and includes a relative with PDAC (as above) Exclusion Criteria: * Personal history of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) * Currently receiving treatment for a cancer diagnosis (excluding long-term hormonal therapy) * Pre-diabetes on metformin for ≥ 3 years
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Unversity of Nebraska Medical Center
RECRUITINGOmaha, Nebraska, 68198, United States
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