GDF15 and familial pancreatic carcinoma: This suggests that GDF-15 and CA199 play different roles in diagnosing pancreatic cancer.[12] Serum MIC-1/GDF-15 can serve as a predictor of tumor formation in asymptomatic individuals at high risk of developing pancreatic cancer.[55] In conclusion, GDF-15 is crucial for the detection of pancreatic cancer and may be more effective in certain patients, particularly those who do not express the Lewis antigen and have undetectable CA199.[2,56]