Development of Monoclonal Antibodies to Aid in Diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer

Early detection and treatment of pancreatic cancer is critical; the best available treatment for pancreatic cancer is surgery, which is only effective at early stages of the disease. But less than 15 percent of patients are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at an early stage.

Investigators developed the Oregon Pancreas Tumor Registry, which serves two functions: first, it is intended to keep patients at high risk for pancreatic cancer under surveillance, with the goal of early diagnosis. Also, it acts as a biospecimen repository in which patients and families may provide blood, pancreatic ductal fluid and tissue samples. Doctors may then use the samples for pancreatic cancer research, according to Brett C. Sheppard, MD,Professor and Vice-Chairman of Surgery at the Digestive Health Center at the Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU).

For this study, OHSU researchers in the Oregon Stem Cell Center and in the Department of General Surgery generated and characterized antibodies. These antibodies were developed following the injection of normal pancreas cells into mice. They next took the spleen cells of the mice and fused them with a myeloma cell line, which yields cells that can be grown for long periods of time in the laboratory. These cells secreted antibodies which researchers were then able to screen for reaction with normal pancreatic and pancreatic cancer tissues.

“The antibodies described in this abstract, recognize normal pancreas cells, specifically a population of ductal cells, but recognize many more cells in pancreatic cancer tissue. In addition to recognizing pancreatic cancer, these antibodies recognize gastrointestinal cancers. The next step is to use these antibodies in a sensitive screening assay to determine their full potential in diagnosis of this devastating disease.“ -Digestive Disease Week