Islamabad(The COW News Digital)Scientists have developed a new blood test that could significantly improve the early detection of pancreatic cancer, offering renewed hope against one of the deadliest forms of cancer worldwide. The findings come from a collaborative study by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and the Mayo Clinic, recently published in an AACR medical journal.
Pancreatic cancer, particularly Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC), is notorious for being difficult to diagnose and treat. In the United Kingdom alone, around 10,500 people are diagnosed with the disease each year. Because early symptoms are often vague or absent, most cases are detected at an advanced stage, when treatment options are limited. As a result, only about 10 percent of patients survive beyond five years, while more than half die within three months of diagnosis.
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The newly developed blood test aims to change this grim outlook by identifying pancreatic cancer at a much earlier stage. Early diagnosis is critical, as it allows doctors to begin treatment sooner, potentially improving survival rates and quality of life for patients.
In the study, researchers analyzed blood samples from both pancreatic cancer patients and healthy individuals. They assessed existing biomarkers already used in clinical settings, including CA19-9 and THBS2. While these markers are currently associated with pancreatic cancer, the researchers confirmed their limitations. CA19-9, for instance, can be elevated in people without cancer, such as those with pancreatitis or bile duct disorders, and some individuals do not produce the marker at all due to genetic factors. These issues make it unreliable as a standalone screening tool.
During further analysis, scientists identified two additional proteins—ANPEP and PIGR—that were found at significantly higher levels in individuals with early-stage pancreatic cancer compared to healthy participants. The presence of these proteins in blood samples suggests they could serve as more accurate indicators for detecting the disease before it progresses.
Researchers believe that combining these newly identified proteins with existing markers could lead to the development of a more reliable and sensitive screening test. Although further clinical trials are needed before the test can be widely used, experts say the discovery represents a major step forward in pancreatic cancer research.
If validated on a larger scale, this blood test could play a crucial role in routine screening for high-risk individuals, ultimately helping to save thousands of lives through earlier diagnosis and timely treatment.
