Is There a Blood Test for Pancreatic Cancer? Learn How the CA 19-9 Test Helps Doctors Make a Diagnosis

Pancreatic Cancer
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Pancreatic Cancer Facts

  • Pancreatic cancer is the fourth highest cause of cancer-related death in the USA. Less than 20% of patients present with disease that is curable and the average 5-year survival rate is below 5%.
  • Environmental risk factors for pancreatic cancer include smoking and high fat diets. Some studies show an increased incidence of pancreatic cancer among patients with a history of diabetes, chronic pancreatitis or chronic cirrhosis.
  • Pancreatic cancer results from the accumulation of successive genetic mutations. Pre-malignant lesions develop in the ductal epithelium and develop into invasive disease.

Clinical Signs and Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer

Symptoms of pancreatic cancer depend on the location of the tumor within the gland and the stage of the disease, but generally include:

  • obstructive cholestasis.
  • abdominal discomfort and nausea.
  • pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
  • abnormal blood glucose levels
  • anorexia and weight loss.
  • jaundice
  • temporal wasting
  • peripheral lymphadenopathy
  • hepatomegaly and ascites.

Diagnostic Procedures for Pancreatic Cancer

  • Routine blood tests: may detect mild abnormalities in liver-function, hyperglycemia, anemia and increased insulin levels.
  • Computed tomography (CT): this allows visualization of the primary tumor.
  • Endoscopic ultrasonography: can be useful in patients where a pancreatic tumor is suspected but there is no visible mass from CT. It allows tissue to be obtained for microscopic analysis.

A Blood Test for Pancreatic Cancer: CA 19-9

There are numerous potential serum biomarkers for diagnosis of pancreatic cancer but so far, the tumor-associated antigen CA 19-9 is the only one considered clinically useful.

CA 19-9 is a serum carbohydrate antigen. Serum levels rise in pancreatic cancer patients due to increased secretion of the antigen from malignant cells.

CA 19-9 is used for therapeutic monitoring and for early detection of recurrent disease after treatment. Elevated levels of CA 19-9 correlate with tumour differentiation and the extent of disease. Preoperative CA 19-9 levels below 200 U/ml and normalisation after treatment has been associated with a longer disease-free survival. Elevation of serum CA 19-9 levels can be a good predictor of tumour recurrence.

Limitations of the CA 19-9 Blood Test for Pancreatic Cancer

  • CA 19-9 is a sialyted Lewis blood group antigen. People who lack the Lewis antigen glycosyltransferase are unable to synthesise CA 19-9 (around 10% of the population). In this group of patients the level of CA 19-9 can be normal, even in advanced disease.
  • CA 19-9 may be elevated in other conditions such as cholestasis.
  • The sensitivity of the CA 19-9 test is variable. Up to 30% of pancreatic cancer patients do not have elevated CA 19-9.
  • Raised CA 19-9 can occur in benign inflammatory diseases of the pancreatobiliary tract.
  • Due to lower levels of CA 19-9 in localised pancreatic cancer, it is not useful as a marker of early disease.

References

Pancreatic Cancer. M.Hidalgo. New England Journal of Medicine, April 2010,Vol 362 P1605-1617

Molecular Markers of Pancreatic Cancer: Development and Clinical Relevance. L.Fry, K.Mönkemüller & P.Malfertheiner, Langenbeck’s Archives of Surgery, 2008, Vol 393, P883-90