Elevated erythropoietin and multicystic neoplasm of the pancreas

Increased erythropoietin levels as a biomarker of pancreatic adenocarcinoma: A case report

Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers commonly diagnosed at an advanced stage. Early diagnosis is crucial for the timely and potentially curative treatment of this highly fatal disease. Although screening tests have improved the survival rate in malignancies such as colon, breast, cervical and prostate cancer, there is currently no effective screening method available for the early detection of pancreatic cancer. As the sensitivity and specificity of existing biomarkers, such as carbohydrate antigen 19-9, for the early detection of pancreatic cancer is low, there is a pressing need for the identification of novel cancer markers. An increase in erythropoietin (EPO) levels has been observed in several cases of pancreatic neoplasms. However, the potential role of EPO as a biomarker of pancreatic cancer or malignant transformation requires further investigation. We herein present a case of increased EPO levels in an adult male patient with stage IV pancreatic cancer.