Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a fatal disease with poor patient outcome often resulting from late diagnosis in advanced stages. To date methods to diagnose early-stage PDAC are limited and in vivo detection of pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN), a pre-invasive precursor of PDAC, is impossible. Using a cathepsin-activatable near-infrared probe in combination with flexible confocal lasermicroscopy (CFL) in a genetically defined mouse model of PDAC we were able to detect and grade murine PanIN lesions in real-time in vivo. Our diagnostic approach is highly sensitive and specific and proved superior to clinically established fluorescein-enhanced imaging. Translation of this endoscopic technique into the clinic should tremendously improve detection of pancreatic neoplasia thus reforming management of patients at risk for PDAC.

Articles:

Nature

Nature reviews cancer