Research Mentor Name

Ling Huang, PhD

Research Mentor Email Address

lhuang4@hfhs.org

Institution / Department

Henry Ford Health

Document Type

Research Abstract

Research Type

clinicalresearch

Graduate Level Research

no

Abstract

Background: Pancreatic cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related death in the U.S., with a 5-year survival of 12.8%. Black patients experience higher incidence, later-stage diagnosis, and worse survival than other groups. Early-onset pancreatic cancer (EOPC, age < 50 years) represents 5–12% of cases and shows distinct features including male predominance, later presentation, and associations with smoking, obesity, and diabetes. Data on EOPC among Black patients remain limited. Given Detroit’s large Black population, this study characterizes clinical and demographic factors associated with EOPC to identify potential risk patterns.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of pancreatic adenocarcinoma cases (October 2005– February 2025) was conducted using the Henry Ford Health REDCap database. Demographic, clinical, and biomarker data were extracted from electronic records. Statistical comparisons between groups were performed using chi-square, Fisher’s exact, or t-tests.

Results: Of 2,436 patients, 243 met inclusion criteria: 86 EOPC, 81 average-onset (AOPC), and 76 late-onset (LOPC). EOPC patients had higher BMI (29 vs 26 kg/m2, p=0.0008) and fewer pack-years (12 vs 25, p=0.00013) than LOPC. Black patients were more often CA 19-9 non- producers (27% vs 3%, p=0.022). White EOPC patients had higher CA 19-9 levels and larger tumors than AOPC/LOPC (p< 0.01).

Conclusion: EOPC appears distinct, marked by higher BMI, reduced smoking, and advanced disease at presentation. Black patients’ higher prevalence of CA 19-9 non-production may complicate diagnosis and monitoring. These findings highlight the need for improved risk stratification and tailored interventions for high-risk populations.

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

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