Research progress on early diagnostic markers for pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a highly aggressive malignancy characterized by insidious onset, rapid progression, and poor prognosis, predominantly affecting middle-aged and elderly men. Biomarker detection represents the most widely utilized approach for early PC diagnosis, encompassing both traditional and novel categories. Although traditional biomarkers like CA 19 - 9 are widely employed clinically, they carry a risk of false negatives in Lewis antigen-negative individuals, underscoring the urgent need for multi-parameter detection strategies to enhance accuracy. Integrating core indicators such as CEA and CA 242 can significantly improve the diagnostic effect of early PC and optimize diagnosis and treatment decisions. In recent years, breakthroughs have been made in biomarkers. Novel detection methods such as liquid biopsy and exosomes are entering the scope of clinical application. Due to their non-invasive nature, good sensitivity and specificity, these innovative biomarkers are gradually replacing traditional biomarkers and have become a new research focus. At present, single traditional biomarkers have limitations in diagnosing PC, while novel biomarkers lack extensive clinical verification. Meanwhile, there is no systematic review article specifically for early screening of PC to comprehensively evaluate the value and application prospects of these biomarkers. Therefore, this article provides a narrative review and comprehensive overview of the research progress on biomarkers related to the early diagnosis of PC in recent years.