Serum fibrinogen as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Early diagnosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is important as PDAC can lead to mortality; however, no specific biomarker has been identified for its early diagnosis. We previously identified fibrinogen α chain as a promising biomarker for differentiating between patients with and without PDAC using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Here, we aimed to validate the clinical usefulness of serum fibrinogen as a biomarker for PDAC. From 2009 to 2011, blood samples of 67 PDAC patients and 43 healthy adults (controls) were prospectively collected. Serum fibrinogen levels and their clinical significances were evaluated. Mean fibrinogen levels were significantly higher in the PDAC group than in the control group (3.08 ± 0.565 vs. 2.54 ± 0.249 log10 ng/mL, P