Iman Waheed Khan, MD1, Muhammad Mueed Khan, MSc2, Hira Hanif, MD1, Elbaum Philip, DO3, Anthony Donato, MD1 1Reading Hospital, Tower Health, Reading, PA; 2Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA; 3US Digestive Health, Reading, PA Introduction: Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a highly lethal malignancy, with global cases rising by 145% from 1990 to 2021. Despite medical advances, its five-year survival rate remains below 35%. Environmental factors like radon, a radioactive gas concentrated indoors, is a confirmed cause for lung cancer. Prior research suggests that radon exposure may also be linked with an increased risk of PC. This study employs artificial intelligence, specifically artificial neural networks (ANNs), to analyze the potential impact of radon on pancreatic cancer incidence. Methods: Age-standardized pancreatic cancer (PC) incidence data (1975–2021) from at least 20 U.S. states were obtained from the SEER database. County-level mean radon levels were sourced from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) map, which classifies counties into three radon potential zones: Zone 1 ( >150 Bq/m³, high exposure) to Zone 3 (< 75 Bq/m³, low exposure). Counties were categorized by radon, and state-level aggregate radon exposure was correlated with PC incidence. ANN was used to model PC incidence and project trends under evolving environmental conditions, controlling for confounders such as smoking, socioeconomic status, and healthcare access from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 dataset. Results: Pancreatic cancer (PC) incidence varied geographically, with higher radon levels positively associated (p < 0.001). Regions with high radon had PC rates 1.8 times higher (95% CI: 1.3–2.4, p < 0.001) than areas with low radon. In 2021, New York State predominantly classified as Zone 1, reported a pancreatic cancer (PC) incidence of 3617 (95% CI, 3021–4184). In comparison, Illinois, with a majority of Zone 2 areas, recorded an incidence of 2436 (95% CI, 2058–2837), while Georgia, primarily Zone 3, had an incidence of 1945 (95% CI, 1678–2242) over the same period. Projections indicate a 12% (95% CI: 8%–17%) increase in PC incidence by 2050 due to worsening radon exposure, driven by modern residential architecture and occupant behaviors. Discussion: This study underscores the potential association of radon on PC incidence. High radon exposure amplifies risk, likely due to the interplay of DNA damage from radon-induced alpha particles. With climate change altering these factors, proactive measures like radon mitigation are essential.
Disclosures: Iman Waheed Khan indicated no relevant financial relationships. Muhammad Mueed Khan indicated no relevant financial relationships. Hira Hanif indicated no relevant financial relationships. Elbaum Philip indicated no relevant financial relationships. Anthony Donato indicated no relevant financial relationships.
Iman Waheed Khan, MD1, Muhammad Mueed Khan, MSc2, Hira Hanif, MD1, Elbaum Philip, DO3, Anthony Donato, MD1. P0072 - Exploring the Link Between Indoor Radon Exposure and Pancreatic Cancer Incidence Through AI-Based Analysis, ACG 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting Abstracts. Phoenix, AZ: American College of Gastroenterology.
