Feasibility and clinical utility of endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition for comprehensive genomic profiling in pancreatic cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA) has become essential for diagnosing pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and is increasingly utilized for comprehensive genome profiling (CGP) to advance precision medicine. This systematic review and meta-analysis assess the feasibility and clinical utility of EUS-TA samples for CGP in PDAC.

Methods: We conducted a thorough systematic literature search in PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library up to October 2023. Key outcomes included sequencing success rates, detection rates of four major driver genes and actionable genes, and concordance rates with other sample types or methodologies.

Results: A total of 23 studies met the inclusion criteria. The pooled sequencing success rate was 83.9 % [95 % confidence interval (CI): 75.8-89.7 %]. No significant difference was observed in sequencing success rates between fine needle aspiration and biopsy (odds ratio 1.77, 95 % CI 0.70-4.47). Meta-regression analysis revealed that the minimum DNA requirement for CGP significantly influenced sequencing success rates. The pooled mutation rate for K-ras was 86.4 % (95 % CI 83.6-88.8), while potentially actionable mutations had a pooled rate of 17.7 % (95 % CI 12.8-23.8). The concordance rate between CGP results from EUS-guided samples and surgical specimens was 81.6 % (95 % CI 68.2-90.1).

Conclusion: Comprehensive genomic profiling of PDAC using EUS-TA-derived samples demonstrated feasibility in clinical settings. Approximately 18 % of patients undergoing CGP exhibited potentially actionable mutations, highlighting the potential for personalized therapeutic approaches.