A pioneering study is set to evaluate a novel breath test designed to diagnose pancreatic cancer, a disease that is notoriously difficult to identify in its early stages. Funded by Pancreatic Cancer UK, this trial represents what the organization believes to be the most significant advancement in the field in half a century.
The elusive nature of pancreatic cancer symptoms, such as back pain and indigestion, often leads to late diagnoses, with a recent audit revealing that 62% of patients in England and 65% in Wales are diagnosed at stage four. The survival rates for pancreatic cancer are particularly disheartening; in England, approximately 22% of patients do not survive beyond 30 days after their diagnosis, a figure that is closely mirrored in Wales.
Researchers at Imperial College London aim to change this narrative with their breath test, which will be trialed on 6,000 patients with undetermined diagnoses across 40 sites in England, Wales, and Scotland. If the test proves effective, it could be implemented in general practice within five years, allowing for earlier diagnoses when treatment options are more viable.
This extensive trial builds on a smaller study involving 700 patients over two years that yielded promising results. The breath test operates by detecting a specific mixture of “volatile organic compounds” that are present in the breath. These compounds circulate in the bloodstream and are expelled through the lungs, making it possible to identify changes even in the earliest stages of cancer.
By isolating distinctive combinations of these compounds, researchers can determine whether a patient has pancreatic cancer, with results available to general practitioners in just three days. Currently, patients suspected of having pancreatic cancer typically undergo scans or hospital referrals for further investigation.
Diana Jupp, the chief executive of Pancreatic Cancer UK, emphasized the transformative potential of this breath test for early detection. She stated, “This is undoubtedly the most significant step toward a lifesaving breakthrough in 50 years. While more years of development are still needed before we can put this exciting new technology into the hands of GPs across the country, thousands of patients with an unknown diagnosis will now help refine it in the real world.”
Professor George Hanna, who heads the Department of Surgery and Cancer at Imperial College London and leads the project, expressed enthusiasm about the funding that will expedite the patient validation phase of the study. He noted that validating their initial findings in a diverse patient population could significantly influence clinical practices and the referral pathways for pancreatic cancer.
The initiation of this large-scale trial marks a hopeful moment in the ongoing battle against one of the deadliest forms of cancer.
