Caenorhabditis elegans as a Diagnostic Aid for Pancreatic Cancer. Issue 5 (May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kobayashi, Masanori; Fujita, Akashi; Ogawa, Tomoya; Tanisaka, Yuki; Mizuide, Masafumi; Kondo, Nobuaki; Imaizumi, Yuki; Hirotsu, Takaaki; Ryozawa, Shomei
• Is Part Of: Pancreas. Volume 50:Issue 5(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-05
• Subjects: cancer diagnosis -- pancreatic cancer -- urine -- C. elegans; Pancreas -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Pancreas -- Periodicals; Neuroendocrine tumors -- Periodicals; 616.37005
• DOI: 10.1097/MPA.0000000000001814
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0885-3177

Abstract

Abstract : Objectives: Early detection of pancreatic cancer is notoriously difficult. A novel cancer diagnostic method using the ability of nematodes to detect odor of urine samples has been developed (N-NOSE). This method has a high sensitivity and specificity for various cancers; however, it has not yet been verified in pancreatic cancer. We examined the usefulness of this method to aid early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer in a cancer center. Methods: We collected urine samples and clinical data from patients hospitalized in our division, between July 2017 and February 2019. We excluded patients with a known current or past history of other cancers. We investigated the relationship between the results of N-NOSE and the presence of pancreatic cancer. Results: There were 95 noncancer cases and 104 pancreatic cancer cases. The sensitivity and specificity of N-NOSE for pancreatic cancer were 84.6% (88/104) and 60% (57/95), respectively. N-NOSE was able to detect stages 0 to I pancreatic cancer and had a higher correlation with early-stage pancreatic cancer than advanced stage. Conclusions: N-NOSE has sufficient sensitivity and specificity for use in clinical practice, and it holds great potential as a diagnostic aid for pancreatic cancer, especially for early-stage pancreatic cancer. Abstract : Supplemental digital content is available in the text.