Mutation of K-RAS, CDKN2A, SMAD4 and TP53 in Pancreatic Cancer: Role of Liquid Biopsy in Preoperative Diagnosis

Pancreatic cancers represent a challenge for the multidisciplinal team. A patient-tailored treatment plan requires an accurate preoperative staging. Currently more than 40% of patient taken to the OR are actually unresectable and another 40% will shortly recur with dismal prognosis. Among patients that meet upfront surgery some would have benefit of a neoadjuvant treatment and vice versa. Accuracy of preoperative staging is of primary importance in treatment decisional making. Due to its location, invasive preoperative diagnostic tests on pancreatic cancer are expensive and risky. Liquid biopsy provides a non-invasive signature of the tumor. Analyzing mutations on cell-free nucleic acids gives translational information on tumor biology and therefore on its clinic-pathological features and likely on its progression. This study would be the first -in our knowledge- analyzing the relationship of a pattern of 4 major genes involved in pancreatic cancer progression on liquid biopsy and the time to recurrence and T-stage, with particular attention to vascular invasion. A properly staged patient provides a better resource allocation, an optimal treatment plan and improves patient's outcomes.