Pancreatic cancer is a challenging disease to diagnose at an early stage, often leading to poor outcomes. However, recent research offers hope for earlier detection and improved outcomes through a blood test that has shown promising results in detecting the disease. A study involving 523 pancreatic cancer patients and 461 healthy individuals from multiple countries showed that the blood test was able to identify a high percentage of pancreatic cancer cases in participants from the US, South Korea, and China.
Combining the blood test with a known pancreatic cancer marker called CA 19-9 improved accuracy in detecting stage 1 and 2 cancers, particularly in US participants. Stage 1 cancer is confined to an organ, while stage 2 has spread to nearby glands but not further. While further research is needed to confirm the test’s effectiveness, this breakthrough offers hope for earlier detection of a disease often diagnosed too late for effective treatment.
Pancreatic cancer affects around 500 people in Israel each year, starting with asymptomatic stages before progressing to symptoms like stomach pain, weight loss, jaundice, and fatigue. This silent progression often leads to advanced stages before detection, making early diagnosis crucial for improving outcomes. The study presenting these findings was shared at the American Association for Cancer Research conference, shedding light on a potential game-changer in pancreatic cancer detection and treatment.
