A minimally invasive and simple screening test for detection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma using biomarkers in duodenal juice

Objective: The aim of this study was to establish a minimally invasive and simple screening test for detection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) using duodenal juice (DJ). METHODS: Duodenal juice was collected prospectively before endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in 46 patients. A protease inhibitor was not added to the samples collected during the initial 2.5 minutes but was added in the latter 2.5 minutes. Thereafter, secretin was administered intravenously, and DJ was subsequently collected for additional 10 minutes. The sensitivities of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), S100 calcium-binding protein P (S100P), and interleukin 8 in DJ and pancreatic juice were assessed. RESULTS: There were 30 patients with PDAC and 16 with benign lesions. It was possible to collect an adequate amount of DJ without secretin administration. In the PDAC group, CEA concentrations in DJ were significantly higher than those in the benign group, even without the use of a protease inhibitor. S100P levels in DJ in the PDAC group were significantly higher than those in the benign group in the presence of the protease inhibitor. CONCLUSIONS: Duodenal juice collection during routine upper endoscopy and assessments of CEA and S100P in DJ might become a useful screening test for detection of PDAC.