3 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
The NFPTR was established in 1994 to find the causes of pancreatic cancer. In brief, the investigators are interested in both the genetic and non-genetic causes of pancreatic cancer. The investigators are particularly interested in finding the genes that cause pancreatic cancer to cluster in some families. Up to 10% of pancreatic cancer patients have another close relative who has also developed pancreatic cancer. This clustering of pancreatic cancers in families has yet to be explained; however, the investigators continue to identify new familial pancreatic cancer genes that explain this clustering in subsets of families. For example, in 2009 and 2012 the investigators discovered that mutations in the PALB2 and ATM genes jointly account up to 5% of the clustering of pancreatic cancer in families.
Johns Hopkins clinical research office quality assurance group will monitor and audit this study at Johns Hopkins. The Sub Investigator at each site will be responsible for internal monitoring at their site.
The main goal of this study is to screen and detect pancreatic cancer and precursor lesions in individuals with a strong family history or genetic predisposition to pancreatic cancer. Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Magnetic cholangiopancreatography (MRI/MRCP) will be utilized to screen for early stage pancreatic cancer or precursor lesions. Participants will be asked to donate a blood sample at specific intervals for the creation of a bio-bank necessary for the development of a blood based screening test for Pancreatic Cancer.