Recruiting

Screening for pancreatic cancer in high-risk families

Plain-English translation of NCT03250078 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated April 2026 · Translation generated June 2026 · How we translate trials

Read our Pancreatic Neoplasms research guide →

What is this trial?

This trial is looking for early signs of pancreatic cancer in people who are at higher risk because of their family history or because they carry certain genes linked to the disease. Researchers will use MRI scans and blood tests to monitor participants over three years, hoping to catch any problems early when treatment options may be better.

Pancreatic cancer is very hard to detect early, and people with a family history or genetic mutations have a much higher chance of developing it. This study aims to see if regular screening can find cancerous changes before symptoms appear, which could save lives.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are at least 50 years old (or at least 10 years younger than the youngest family member who had pancreatic cancer)
you have a strong family history of pancreatic cancer (at least two close relatives, or three relatives across generations with at least one close relative affected)
you carry one of the known high-risk genes (such as BRCA1, BRCA2, or Lynch syndrome genes) and have at least one close or second-degree relative with pancreatic cancer
you are in generally good health and able to participate in all study visits over three years
you are able to safely undergo MRI scans and have no metal implants or devices that would prevent MRI testing

You likely don't qualify if…

you have ever been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer
you have been diagnosed with metastatic cancer (cancer that has spread) or are currently receiving chemotherapy
you have a history of hereditary pancreatitis
you have severe kidney disease that would prevent safe contrast dye use during MRI
you are pregnant, nursing, or unable to safely undergo MRI scanning

What participation looks like

You will visit the study site every 6 months for three years to give a blood sample and complete a short 5-minute survey about your emotional well-being. Once a year during this time, you'll also have an MRI scan of your pancreas (four scans total), and the study will cover all costs for these scans. If any abnormalities are found, a team of specialists will review the results and discuss them with you.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 18, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(1 site)

United States

Nuvance Health, Norwalk, Connecticut