Professor Tatjana Crnogorac-Jurcevic
Group Leader
Professor of Molecular Pathology and Biomarkers
Overview
My research focuses on molecular pathology of pancreatic cancer, in particular its development and progression. We are using this knowledge to develop biomarkers for early, non-invasive detection of this malignancy in urine specimens.
Team
Dr Pedro Casado-Izquierdo
Postdoctoral Researcher
Dr Silvana Debernardi
Postdoctoral Researcher
Evelyn Kurotova
Technician
Research
Research
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has been deemed a ‘silent killer’, as it is asymptomatic at an early stage; more than 80% of patients therefore present with already disseminated disease, when curative surgery is not possible any more. Current treatments for such patients are largely inefficient, and their median survival is only 3-6 months. Overall five-year survival for pancreatic cancer patients is less than 5%.
We have therefore set ourselves a goal of making a difference for pancreatic cancer patients by developing a non-invasive test for early detection of PDAC. This is based on a thorough understanding of developmental biology of this malignancy, stemming from analysis of the most common precursor lesions, PanINs, as a key source of potential early disease markers (PLOS One, 2013).
In addition, we performed an in-depth proteomics analysis of easily obtainable biofluid, urine (Proteom Clin Appl, 2008), and described a panel of three protein biomarkers that can detect stage I-II PDAC with >90% accuracy (Clin Cancer Res, 2015).
We have subsequently further validated this urinary biomarker panel in additional retrospectively collected samples (PLoS Medicine, 2020), and developed a PancRISK score (BCJ, 2020) which enables us to stratify the patients into having a high or an average risk of developing PDAC (BCJ, 2020). Recently, we have also shown that our biomarker panel can detect PDAC up to two years before clinical diagnosis (IJC, 2023).
With funding support from Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund (PCRF), we are now running UroPanc study (https://www.pcrf.org.uk/uropanc-study/), a large observational trial. The aim of this trial is to establish the accuracy of our biomarker panel and the affiliated PancRISK in two cohorts at risk of developing pancreatic cancer: individuals with hereditary predisposition to pancreatic cancer (familial history and genetic syndromes), and patients with vague, but suggestive of pancreatic cancer, symptoms. If the urine test proves to be able to accurately stratify the patients, it would be implemented into a ‘new’, improved diagnostic pathway for pancreatic cancer patients. In addition and importantly, within the UroPanc we will also assess the economic and social impact of the test.
Highly accurate, non-invasive test for early detection of PDAC, we believe, will make a true impact on currently exceptionally poor prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients.
We are now working towards developing and manufacturing of a standardised, clinical-grade kit that will be submitted for CE-marking before it can be ready for real time application for the benefit of patients at risk for developing pancreatic cancer.
In addition to proteins, we have also interrogated urinary ctDNA for mutation detection, profiled urinary miRNAs (Am J Cancer Res, 2015), volatile organic compounds (Gastroenterology, 2018; Talanta, 2021), as well as metal elements in urine (Metallomics, 2020), demonstrating the utility of urine as an excellent completely non-invasive biofluid source for an array of different biomarkers.
In addition to biomarker work, we are also interested in understanding of the roles in pancreatic cancer of additional proteins, AGR2 and S100P, as well and S100P- binding partner S100PBP, which we discovered in our laboratory. Both AGR2 and S100P are highly expressed in PanINs, primary PDACs and metastatic lesions, and also facilitate dissemination of pancreatic cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo (J Pathol 2003; Cancer Res, 2007; Cancer Res, 2011; Clin Exp Metastasis, 2013; Oncogene, 2017, Am J Ca Res, 2021), and are therefore potentially promising therapeutic targets. Our recent study demonstrates that S100PBP is regulated by mutated KRAS and plays a tumour suppressor role in pancreatic cancer (Oncogene, 2023).
Finally, we are also studying EOPC – early onset pancreatic cancer, in order to decipher why this subgroup of patients is developing PDAC when they are around 20 years younger than the typical, aged PDAC patient population. We started with EOPC epidemiology (BMC Gastroenterology, 2018) and have recently completed the mutational profiling of primary and matched metastatic EOPC samples (Molecular Oncology, 2024).
Finally, we are continuing to explore further potential biomarkers to complement our urinary proteins. We have recently evaluated C-reactive protein (CRP) in samples of PDAC patients and demonstrated feasibility of measuring this traditional blood biomarker also in urine (Frontiers in Oncology, 2024).
Patents
- Patent Number: GB1501930.0: covers anti-SPAG1 antibody that was raised and validated in collaboration with CR-UK. It has now been commercialised by Cancer Research Technology Limited, UK.
- A worldwide patent (WO2005062055A2 with Prof N. Lemoine) titled: “Methods for detecting neoplasia and markers thereof”. This patent is based on three proteins (S100P, AGR2 and SPAG1) that can aid diagnosis of pancreatic cancer in tissue biopsies/cytology material.
- Patent (No 10001596.5 – 2404/ US 2013/0045884) with Dr C. Schroder and Prof J. Hoheisel, from University of Heidelberg, Germany: “Means and methods for diagnosing pancreatic cancer”. This patent is based on nconstruction and testing of the antibody array. Dr Schroder is now a CEO of spin out company Sciomics.
- The PCT application “PCT/GB2016/050277: Biomarkers for pancreatic cancer” was published on 11th August 2016. In July 2017, the patent was filed within Europe and US and in additional 12 countries (Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Israel, Japan, Europe, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand and Singapore).
- ROC Patent I643869, 2018 on “The Preparation Methods of Molecularly Imprinted Materials” with Profs Hung-Yin Lin and Mei-Hwa Lee, National University of Kaohsiung (NUK), Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The patent is based on the construction of molecularly imprinted polymer for REG1 that will enable design of biosensor for detection of this protein in urine.
Key Publications
Brief history of urinalysis – from ancient uroscopy to 21st century urinomics. Advances in Biomarker Sciences and Technology (2024). PMID: 270498941
Molecular characteristics of early-onset pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Molecular Oncology (2024). PMID: 38145461
S100PBP is regulated by mutated KRAS and plays a tumour suppressor role in pancreatic cancer. Oncogene (2023). PMID: 37794133
Urine biomarkers enable pancreatic cancer detection up to 2 years before diagnosis. Int J Cancer (2022) Online ahead of print. PMID: 36093581
Non-Invasive Biomarkers for Earlier Detection of Pancreatic Cancer – A Comprehensive Review. Cancers (Basel) (2021) 13(11):2722. PMID: 34072842
A 3-Dimensional Coculture Model to Visualize and Monitor Interaction between Pancreatic Cancer and Islet β Cells. Pancreas (2021) Aug 1;50(7):982-989. PMID: 34629448
A combination of urinary biomarker panel and PancRISK score for earlier detection of pancreatic cancer: A case-control study. PLoS Med (2020) 17(12):e1003489. PMID: 33301466
Development of PancRISK, a urine biomarker-based risk score for stratified screening of pancreatic cancer patients. British Journal of Cancer (2020) Mar;122(5):692-696. PMID: 31857725
See recent publicationsMajor Funding
- 2022-2025 – CRUK Serial AI machine learning classifiers for personalised risk stratification and early detection of cancer (SAICRED) (with O. Bluyss), £150,000
- 2019-2026 – Barts Charity, Screening and Early Diagnosis (with S. Duffy N Lemoine, H Kocher), £1,5M
- 2019-2026 -Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund, UroPanc trial, £1,59M
- 2018-2020 – Cancer Research UK, Evaluation of Early Pancreatic Cancer Biomarkers in pre-diagnostic urine specimens, £235,000
Other Activities
- Module Lead for Genomic Approaches to Cancer (Masters courses, BCI, Queen Mary University of London)
Member of:
- Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland
- British and European Association of Cancer Research (BACR and EACR)
- American Association of Cancer Research (AACR)
- American Pancreatic Association (APA)
- EU Pancreas COST Action
- Pancreatic Cancer Europe
Biography
I obtained the MBBS degree and completed an MD thesis at the Medical Faculty, University of Zagreb in Croatia, and my PhD at the Imperial College School of Medicine in London. After a postdoctoral experience in molecular biology at CNRS in Toulouse, France and molecular oncology at CRUK laboratory at Hammersmith Hospital, London, I joined Barts Cancer Institute in November 2004.
In addition to research, I am an active teacher and educator. I am a Module Lead for Genomic Approaches to Cancer, a part of MSc Cancer Sciences programmes.
In 2006 I was awarded a Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP) and became a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy in 2009.
Related News
New spinout launches to advance early pancreatic cancer detection
Queen Mary University of London has launched a new company, Procyon Diagnostics, to provide pioneering early cancer detection tests. The company’s first test, PancRISK, offers new hope for detecting pancreatic cancer earlier, building on over 15 years of research by Professor Tatjana Crnogorac-Jurcevic at Queen Mary’s Barts Cancer Institute (BCI), funded by the Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund.
General News 29 October 2025
Research on the use of urine biomarkers for early detection of pancreatic cancer
Professor Tatjana Crnogorac-Jurcevic and her team at Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, are working to identify biological clues or ‘biomarkers’ for early, non-invasive detection of pancreatic cancer in urine samples. In their most recent paper, published in the International Journal of Cancer, the team reported that a urine biomarker panel could detect pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, the most common type of pancreatic cancer, up to 2 years before clinical diagnosis.
General News 28 November 2022
Our Pancreatic Cancer Research: From BCI Bench to Bedside
Pancreatic cancer is a core area of research focus at the Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, with a major aim being direct translation of laboratory research into clinical trials with the hope of improving outcomes for patients. Find out more this World Pancreatic Cancer Day.
General News 18 November 2021
Our pancreatic cancer research
November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month and today (19th November) is World Pancreatic Cancer Day. Join us in looking back at some of our pancreatic cancer research from the last year.
General News 19 November 2020
Metal analysis of urine for pancreatic cancer detection
Research has revealed that the signature of metal ions present in urine samples is an accurate indicator of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, one of the deadliest types of cancer.
General News 28 April 2020
Urine test for pancreatic cancer starts clinical study
A urine test that can detect early stage pancreatic cancer has reached the final stage of validation before being developed for use with patients. If successful, this non-invasive urine test would be the first in the world to help clinicians detect the highly lethal cancer at an early stage - enabling many more people to have surgery to remove their tumour, which is currently the only potentially curative treatment.
General News 25 September 2019