A pioneering clinical trial is being launched to evaluate a novel breath test designed for the early detection of pancreatic cancer, a disease that is notoriously challenging to identify in its initial stages. Funded by Pancreatic Cancer UK, this trial has been hailed as “the most significant step toward a lifesaving breakthrough in 50 years.”
The symptoms associated with pancreatic cancer, such as back pain and indigestion, are often vague, leading to late-stage diagnoses. Recent data from an audit in England and Wales revealed that a substantial majority of patients—62% in England and 65% in Wales—are diagnosed at stage four, when the cancer has already metastasized. Survival rates are alarmingly low, with approximately 22% of patients in England and 21% in Wales not surviving beyond 30 days post-diagnosis.
Researchers at Imperial College London are optimistic that this innovative breath test could change the prognosis for patients. The study will involve 6,000 participants with unknown diagnoses across 40 sites in England, Wales, and Scotland. Should this test prove effective, it is anticipated that it could be introduced in general practitioner (GP) surgeries within five years, allowing for earlier interventions when treatments are more likely to be successful.
This extensive trial follows a smaller study involving 700 patients over the course of two years, which yielded promising results. The breath test works by detecting a specific combination of “volatile organic compounds” that are present in the breath. These compounds travel through the bloodstream and are filtered out by the lungs, then exhaled. According to the charity, these detectable changes can even occur in the earliest stages of cancer. By isolating unique combinations of these compounds, researchers can accurately identify whether an individual has pancreatic cancer, with results available to GPs in just three days.
Currently, patients suspected of having pancreatic cancer typically undergo scans or are referred to hospitals for further evaluation. Diana Jupp, CEO of Pancreatic Cancer UK, stated, “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 added that while additional development is necessary before the technology can be widely adopted by GPs, the involvement of thousands of patients with unknown diagnoses will help refine the test in real-world settings.
Professor George Hanna, head of the Department of Surgery and Cancer at Imperial College London and project leader, commented, “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 recent funding will facilitate a rapid transition to the patient validation stage, marking an exciting advancement in the fight against this formidable cancer.
