Endoscopic ultrasound-guided portal vein sampling and circulating tumor cells: the next frontier in pancreatic cancer, or a step too far?

Liquid biopsy has emerged as a pivotal tool in oncology.Unlike with tissue biopsies, the possibility of analyzing circulating tumor-derived material in bodily fluids offers the potential for real-time monitoring of cancer dynamics and prognosis.These advantages might be of paramount importance for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), one of the deadliest cancers.Despite some progress in the field of its early detection and the therapeutic armamentarium, the prognosis of PDAC remains poor, with 5-year survival rates of about 10% [1].