2025 Volume 63 Issue 2 Pages 70-82
Liquid biopsy is emerging as a promising approach to complement pathological diagnosis. Recently, circulating tumor cells (CTCs), cell-free DNA (cfDNA), cell-free RNA (cfRNA), and extracellular vesicles (EVs) including exosomes have garnered significant attention as tools for early cancer detection. In pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), these components are considered potential diagnostic and prognostic markers. Our research has focused on multi-layer detection, targeting driver gene mutations such as KRAS and GNAS, alongside RNA and EV analysis in body fluids. This review provides an overview of the genetic mutation and aberrantly expressed RNAs associated with precancerous lesions, such as pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN), as well as invasive PDAC. We will also discuss recent advancements in genetic analysis for surveillance and clinical use. The developments in the rapidly evolving field of liquid biopsy hold great promise for the early detection and prevention of PDAC, a disease known for its significant heterogeneity.
