Pancreatic Stone Protein as a Versatile Biomarker: Current Evidence and Clinical Applications.

Abstract

Background: The identification and clinical implementation of robust biomarkers are essential for improving diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment across a wide range of diseases. Pancreatic stone protein (PSP) has recently emerged as a promising candidate biomarker.

Objective: This narrative review aims to provide an updated and comprehensive overview of the clinical applications of PSP in infectious, oncological, metabolic, and surgical contexts.

Methods: We conducted a structured literature search using PubMed^®, applying the SANRA framework for narrative reviews. Boolean operators were used to retrieve relevant studies on PSP in a wide range of clinical conditions, including sepsis, gastrointestinal cancers, diabetes, and ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Results: PSP has shown strong diagnostic and prognostic potential in sepsis, where it may outperform traditional markers such as CRP and PCT. It has also demonstrated relevance in gastrointestinal cancers, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and perioperative infections. PSP levels appear to rise earlier than other inflammatory markers and may be less affected by sterile inflammation.

Conclusion: PSP represents a versatile and clinically valuable biomarker. Its integration into diagnostic protocols could enhance early detection and risk stratification in critical care and oncology settings. However, widespread adoption is currently limited by the availability of point-of-care assay platforms.