A groundbreaking study is set to evaluate a novel breath test designed to improve care for patients with pancreatic cancer, a disease that is notoriously difficult to detect in its early stages. Experts have pointed out that this innovative test could significantly change the landscape of pancreatic cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Funded by Pancreatic Cancer UK, the trial is being hailed as “the most significant step toward a lifesaving breakthrough in 50 years.” The breath test aims to address the issue of vague symptoms such as back pain and indigestion, which often lead to late-stage diagnoses. An audit revealed that a significant percentage of patients in both England and Wales are diagnosed at stage four, with 62% and 65% respectively. These late diagnoses contribute to poor survival rates, as evidenced by the fact that about 22% of patients in England and 21% in Wales do not survive beyond 30 days after diagnosis.
Researchers at Imperial College London are optimistic that the breath test could alter the grim statistics surrounding pancreatic cancer. The trial will involve approximately 6,000 patients with undiagnosed conditions across 40 locations in England, Wales, and Scotland. If successful, it is anticipated that the test could be implemented in general practitioners” offices within five years, facilitating earlier diagnoses when treatments may be more effective.
This large-scale trial is built on the foundation of a smaller study involving 700 patients over two years, which yielded promising outcomes. The breath test works by detecting specific combinations of volatile organic compounds in the breath. These compounds circulate in the bloodstream, are filtered by the lungs, and can reveal changes indicative of pancreatic cancer, even in its earliest stages. Results from the test can be made available to general practitioners in just three days.
Currently, patients suspected of having pancreatic cancer must undergo scans or further hospital investigations. Diana Jupp, the chief executive of Pancreatic Cancer UK, stated, “The breath test has the potential to revolutionise the early detection of pancreatic cancer. It is, undoubtedly, the most significant step toward a lifesaving breakthrough in 50 years.” She added that while further development is essential before the technology can be widely adopted, the involvement of thousands of patients in the trial will help refine the test in real-world settings.
Professor George Hanna, who leads the project at Imperial College London, expressed enthusiasm about the next phase of the study. He noted, “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 funding announced will enable the team to move swiftly into the patient validation study, marking an exciting next step in their research. “We look forward to seeing how the test performs in this group of patients with suspected cancer,” he said.
