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closeEvidence for the need for a shift in priorities
Posted by clogsdon on 12 Aug 2009 at 22:52 GMT
This is an excellent compilation of potential biomarkers for pancreatic cancer. The authors should be congratulated for pulling together data from so many sources. As this work shows, the biggest difficulty at this point is that the list of candidates is so long.
Clearly the field is at a point where what is needed for pancreatic cancer isn't more candidates, but better ways to validate the candidates. The focus needs to shift from candidate discovery to biomarker validation.
We have been working to develop reverse phase array technology for rapid, inexpensive analysis of candidate biomarkers in patient samples (see PMID 18615426 ). This technology is promising, but needs further refinement. Other approaches that are high throughput are possible and should also be pursued.
For real progress on pancreatic cancer biomarkers cooperation will be needed from instutitions that have collections of appropriate blood samples. Comparisons between normal and cancer patients are not enough, chronic pancreatitis must be included. This type of multi-institutional cooperation will require leadership and financial backing. I would support some of these authors as potential leaders of such an effort.