A recent study has revealed promising advancements in the early detection of pancreatic cancer, a disease notoriously difficult to diagnose in its initial stages. According to the study, a blood test shows potential in identifying early-stage pancreatic cancers with a remarkable accuracy rate of up to 97%.
The test, which examines the presence of eight small RNA particles and eight larger DNA markers associated with pancreatic cancers, offers a genetic “signature” that aids in the detection process, researchers explained. Currently, pancreatic cancer often goes unnoticed until it has progressed to advanced stages, largely due to the organ’s deep location in the abdomen and symptoms that mimic those of other ailments.
Senior researcher Ajay Goel, chair of molecular diagnostics and experimental therapeutics at City of Hope Cancer Center, emphasized the severity of pancreatic cancer, stating, “Pancreatic cancer is one of the most fatal malignancies, in large part because the majority of patients are diagnosed only after the cancer has already metastasized.” The five-year survival rate for early-stage pancreatic cancer stands at 44%, but drops significantly to 3% once the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
A previous trial involving 95 patients from the United States and Japan demonstrated a detection rate of 98% using the blood test. Building on this success, the latest trial enrolled 523 individuals with pancreatic cancer and 461 healthy participants from various countries including Japan, the United States, South Korea, and China.
Results from the trial showed promising detection rates across different populations:
– 93% detection rate among U.S. participants.
– 91% detection rate among South Koreans.
– 88% detection rate among Chinese participants.
Furthermore, when the blood test was combined with an existing pancreatic cancer marker test known as CA 19-9, the accuracy soared to 97% for detecting stage 1 and 2 cancers among U.S. participants. Stage 1 cancers are confined to the pancreas, while stage 2 cancers have spread to nearby lymph nodes but not beyond.
Ajay Goel expressed optimism about the findings, stating, “Our approach offers a liquid biopsy test superior to CA19-9 measurement alone for early-stage disease.” However, researchers caution that further validation through additional studies is necessary before the test can be widely implemented.
The trial results were presented at a meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research in San Diego, though it’s important to note that findings presented at such events are considered preliminary until they undergo peer review and are published in a scientific journal.