Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is diagnosed at an advanced, incurable stage in more than 80% of cases in Switzerland. Certain warning signs - new-onset diabetes, unexplained weight loss, or a family history of pancreatic cancer - may indicate elevated risk, but are not systematically assessed in primary care.
PANCATCH-Pilot tests whether a structured case-finding pathway in Swiss general practices is feasible. Adults aged 60 years or older with one or more of these risk factors are invited to undergo an MRI/MRCP examination of the pancreas and a blood draw for a blinded biomarker test (PancreaSure, Immunovia Inc.). Findings are reviewed by a multidisciplinary tumour board. The goal is not treatment, but to assess whether such a pathway works in the Swiss primary care context - as preparation for a larger national study.
The study enrolls 50 trigger-positive participants over 24 months through two parallel recruitment pathways: GP referral and self-presentation via a study website. Feasibility is assessed using six combined endpoints covering recruitment, process quality, safety, and equity.
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
saskia.hendrich@ozh.ch+41 43 344 33 33
Adults aged 60 years or older with at least one metabolic trigger (new-onset type 2 diabetes ≤24 months combined with unintentional weight loss \>5% in 3 months) or familial/genetic trigger (family history of PDAC or BRCA1/2/CDKN2A germline mutation), recruited through GP referral or self-presentation via study website.
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