Current Role of Proteomics in Pancreatic Cancer Biomarkers Research

Pancreatic cancer is a highly lethal disease with one of the highest morbidity/mortality ratio among all major solid cancers. This is partially a result of the frequent failure of diagnostics at its early stages. Scientists and health care employees worldwide try to find new strategies for early diagnostics of pancreatic cancer. Improved imaging capabilities have not brought all expected advances yet and could hardly be applied as a first choice screening method in large populations. Therefore, biomarker research seems to be an attractive option for the screening and diagnostics of pancreatic cancer. Due to the recent technical innovations, proteomics seems to be a very promising method for biomarkers research at the time. Recently published studies in this field reveal an increasing number of potential new pancreatic cancer biomarkers, such as galectins, DJ-1, S100 family proteins, apolipoproteins, transglutaminase 2 and others. Establishment of a sensitive and specific set of biomarkers will lead to a breakthrough in the pancreatic cancer management and survival. The most promising proteins with potential to be used in future for early diagnostics and treatment personalization of pancreatic cancer are reviewed in this manuscript.