Table 1:

Selected circulating protein markers of pancreatic cancer

Marker	Full name(s)	Function	References
ApoA2 isoforms	Apolipoprotein A2	Component of high-density lipoprotein particles	[30,31]
CA125	Carcinoma antigen 125, Mucin 16	O-glycosylated protein that functions in forming a protective mucous barrier	[32,33]
CA19–9	Cancer antigen 19–9, carbohydrate antigen sialyl Lewis a	A glycosphingolipid that functions in embryogenesis that is secondarily absorbed to red blood cells	[31,34–36]
CEA	Carcinoembryonic antigen, carcinoembryonic Antigen-Related Cell Adhesion Molecule 5	Cell surface glycoprotein that functions in cell adhesion	[19,33,35,37,38]
CPA1	Carboxypeptidase A1	A zinc metalloprotease that cleaves select dietary proteins	[34]
DUPAN-2	Duke pancreatic monoclonal antigen type 2	A precursor of CA 19–9	[39]
GDF15/MIC-1	Growth differentiation factor 15	A secreted ligand in the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily of proteins	[40,41]
LRG1	Leucine rich alpha-2-glycoprotein 1	Functions in protein-protein interactions, cell adhesion, and signal transduction	[42,43]
MUC5AC	Mucin 5AC	Protects mucosal surfaces, and functions in phosphatidylinositol-mediated signaling	[44]
SPP1	Osteopontin	Attachment of osteoclasts to mineralized bone matrix (hydroxyapatite)	[33,38,45,46]
THBS2	Thrombospondin-2	A glycoprotein that mediates cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions	[47–49]
TIMP1	Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1	As the name suggests, inhibits matrix metalloproteinases	[23,50]