LabMedica

Download Mobile App
Recent News Expo Clinical Chem. Molecular Diagnostics Hematology Immunology Microbiology Pathology Technology Industry Focus

Large Genomic Study Identifies New Pancreatic Cancer Risk Loci

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 05 Mar 2018
Print article
Image: A Manhattan plot of the study results show taller peaks that denote genetic loci most significantly associated with pancreatic cancer risk (Photo courtesy of Dr. Alison Klein, Johns Hopkins University).
Image: A Manhattan plot of the study results show taller peaks that denote genetic loci most significantly associated with pancreatic cancer risk (Photo courtesy of Dr. Alison Klein, Johns Hopkins University).
A large genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified five new susceptibility loci for pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer is among the leading causes of cancer death in the U.S. and Europe and is expected to result in nearly 150,000 annual deaths by 2020. To identify common susceptibility alleles, a consortium of more than 80 research institutions performed one of the largest pancreatic cancer GWAS to date, including 9040 patients and 12,496 controls of European ancestry from the Pancreatic Cancer Cohort Consortium (PanScan) and the Pancreatic Cancer Case-Control Consortium (PanC4).

Overall, investigators analyzed more than 11.3 million variants in 21,536 individuals.

The newly identified loci were found on human chromosomes one (position 1p36.33), 7 (position 7p12), eight (position 8q21.11), 17 (position 17q12), and 18 (position 18q21.32). The increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer was estimated to be from 15 to 25% for each copy present in the genome.

"On an individual level, having one of these variants is not very predictive of cancer, in that they are only associated with a modest change in risk, but when taken together, they help to create the fuller picture of how pancreatic cancer develops," said first author Dr. Alison Klein, professor of oncology, pathology, and epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD, USA). "Continuing studies will delve deeper into the genetics of pancreatic cancer. There is still a lot more that we do not know about hereditary factors in pancreatic cancer risk."

The pancreatic cancer genome-wide association study was published in the February 8, 2018, online edition of the journal Nature Communications.

Related Links:
Johns Hopkins University

Platinum Member
COVID-19 Rapid Test
OSOM COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test
Magnetic Bead Separation Modules
MAG and HEATMAG
Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Test
GPP-100 Anti-CCP Kit
Gold Member
ADAMTS-13 Protease Activity Test
ATS-13 Activity Assay

Print article

Channels

Clinical Chemistry

view channel
Image: The 3D printed miniature ionizer is a key component of a mass spectrometer (Photo courtesy of MIT)

3D Printed Point-Of-Care Mass Spectrometer Outperforms State-Of-The-Art Models

Mass spectrometry is a precise technique for identifying the chemical components of a sample and has significant potential for monitoring chronic illness health states, such as measuring hormone levels... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: The CAPILLARYS 3 DBS devices have received U.S. FDA 510(k) clearance (Photo courtesy of Sebia)

Next Generation Instrument Screens for Hemoglobin Disorders in Newborns

Hemoglobinopathies, the most widespread inherited conditions globally, affect about 7% of the population as carriers, with 2.7% of newborns being born with these conditions. The spectrum of clinical manifestations... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: The AI predictive model identifies the most potent cancer killing immune cells for use in immunotherapies (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

AI Predicts Tumor-Killing Cells with High Accuracy

Cellular immunotherapy involves extracting immune cells from a patient's tumor, potentially enhancing their cancer-fighting capabilities through engineering, and then expanding and reintroducing them into the body.... Read more

Microbiology

view channel
Image: The T-SPOT.TB test is now paired with the Auto-Pure 2400 liquid handling platform for accurate TB testing (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

Integrated Solution Ushers New Era of Automated Tuberculosis Testing

Tuberculosis (TB) is responsible for 1.3 million deaths every year, positioning it as one of the top killers globally due to a single infectious agent. In 2022, around 10.6 million people were diagnosed... Read more