A pioneering clinical trial is set to evaluate a breath test designed to detect pancreatic cancer, a disease that is often diagnosed at advanced stages due to its subtle symptoms. Funded by Pancreatic Cancer UK, this trial is being hailed as a significant advancement in cancer detection, potentially marking the most substantial progress in 50 years.
Pancreatic cancer is notorious for its vague symptoms, which can include back pain and indigestion, leading to late-stage diagnoses. Recent statistics indicated that a staggering 62% of patients in England and 65% in Wales are diagnosed at stage four. The survival rates are alarmingly low, as 22% of patients in England and 21% in Wales do not survive beyond 30 days post-diagnosis.
Researchers from Imperial College London are optimistic about the breath test”s potential to change the course of this challenging disease. The trial will involve 6,000 patients with unknown diagnoses across 40 locations in England, Wales, and Scotland. If successful, the test could be implemented in general practice within five years, enabling earlier diagnoses when treatment is more likely to be effective.
This extensive trial follows an earlier study involving 700 patients, which yielded promising results. The breath test identifies a mix of volatile organic compounds produced by the body, which are exhaled and can indicate the presence of pancreatic cancer. The charity noted that these compounds can signal the disease even at its earliest stage, and results can be communicated to general practitioners within just three days.
Currently, patients suspected of having pancreatic cancer typically undergo scans or are referred to hospitals for additional evaluations. Diana Jupp, CEO of Pancreatic Cancer UK, remarked, “The breath test has the potential to revolutionize the early detection of pancreatic cancer. It is, undoubtedly, the most significant step toward a lifesaving breakthrough in 50 years.” She emphasized that while further development is necessary before widespread implementation, the involvement of numerous patients will refine the test in real-world settings.
Professor George Hanna, head of the Department of Surgery and Cancer at Imperial College London and the project lead, stated, “If our findings from the initial phase of the breath test study can be validated in a population of patients with an unknown diagnosis, it has huge potential to influence clinical practice and pancreatic cancer referral pathways.” The newly announced funding will facilitate swift progress to the patient validation study phase, which is an exciting advancement for the research team.
