The Role of Next-Generation Sequencing in the Cytologic Diagnosis of Pancreatic Lesions

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most aggressive types of cancer in humans and is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage. (1) The management of patients with a [...]
Context.--Integration of the analysis of genetic markers with endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration and cytologic evaluation has increased the accuracy of the preoperative diagnosis of pancreatic lesions. The application of high-throughput gene panel analysis using next-generation sequencing platforms is now offering a great opportunity for further improvements. Objective.--To review the application of next-generation sequencing to the preoperative diagnosis of pancreatic lesions. Data Sources.--For data acquisition, a PubMed search using the terms next-generation sequencing, pancreas, pancreatic lesions, pancreatic tumors, and EUS-FNA was performed covering the years 2000-2017. Conclusions.--KRAS remains the gene most widely studied for preoperative single-gene tests. Next-generation sequencing reliably allows analysis of multiple gene markers starting from limited amounts of DNA. The study of multigene panels has become a very attractive option for the management and preoperative risk stratification of patients with pancreatic cancer. doi: 10.5858/arpa.2017-0215-RA