Signature Development and Validation Protocol for an Epigenetic Assay in Diagnosing Pancreatic Cancer

April 7, 2026 updated by: Peter Olivieri, University of Maryland, Baltimore

The purpose of this research study is to test a new process for diagnosing pancreatic cancer by examining changes to your DNA that can be detected from a blood test. The information we learn by doing this study could potentially help people in the future.

Participants in this study will have blood samples collected, have their medical records reviewed by study personnel and fill out questionnaires at different time points during the study. Blood sample collection will occur during normal routine clinic visits. Participation in this study will last approximately 5 years.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Detailed Description

This clinical testing protocol outlines the validation process for an epigenetic assay targeting host peripheral blood cell and the associated host DNA methylation signatures designed to diagnose pancreatic cancer. The overall protocol process will involve three distinct stages representing three patient cohorts with up to 150 subjects per cohort across 3 populations of patients. Cohort one will act as signature development phase; cohort two will act as signature finalization phase; and cohort three will act as a validation cohort phase. Each cohort with include the following patient populations with up to 50 patients per population:

  1. Pancreatic cancer, NO chemotherapy. Surgical resection and/or radiation therapy
  2. Pancreatic cancer, WITH chemotherapy. All stages including remission
  3. At risk group (individuals who have chronic pancreatitis, been diagnosed with an intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN), have a family history of pancreatic cancer and/or have a known genetic disposition)

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

450

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Maryland
      • Glen Burnie, Maryland, United States, 21061
        • University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center
        • Contact:
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Jeffrey Marshall, MD
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Harvinder Singh, MD
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Agazi Gebreselassie, MD

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Study participants will be selected from patients being cared for across the University of Maryland Medical System

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • 18 years old or older
  • Patient of UMMS
  • Willing and able to consent to study procedures listed in the protocol
  • Ability to speak and understand English
  • Has a history of pancreatic cancer of is at high risk for pancreatic cancer

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Younger than 18 years old
  • Patient not cared for at UMMS
  • Unable to consent to study procedures listed in the protocol
  • Unable to speak or understand English
  • Does not have a history of pancreatic cancer or is not at high risk for pancreatic cancer

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Study Population 1
This study population will consist of individuals who have a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and have not received chemotherapy treatment for their pancreatic cancer. Individuals who have received surgical resection and/or radiation therapy for their pancreatic cancer will be included.
Study Population 2
This study population will consist of individuals who have a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and have received chemotherapy treatment for their pancreatic cancer. All stages of pancreatic cancer will be included including individuals in remission.
Study Population 3
This study population will consist of individuals who are at high risk of developing pancreatic cancer.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Technology development
Time Frame: 5 years
The investigators will develop array-based assays using whole-blood samples, focused on disease-specific methylation sites to provide early diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic efficacy prediction.
5 years
Identification of tumor-associated host methylation signature
Time Frame: 5 years
Genome-wide methylation profile of whole blood from pancreatic cancer patients, pre-cancer patients, patients undergoing therapy, and control subjects.
5 years
Technology validation
Time Frame: 5 years
The investigators will validate identified blood-based circulating methylation signatures in patients at high risk for developing pancreatic cancer.
5 years

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of Maryland, Baltimore

Collaborators

EPOCH Epigenetics, Inc

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

May 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

June 1, 2032

Study Completion (Estimated)

July 1, 2032

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

April 7, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 7, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

April 14, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

April 14, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 7, 2026

Last Verified

April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • HP-00118397

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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