A pioneering breath test aimed at detecting pancreatic cancer is poised to significantly improve patient care, according to experts. A trial is set to evaluate the efficacy of this innovative test, which is the first of its kind for this challenging-to-diagnose disease. Funded by Pancreatic Cancer UK, the trial has been described as “the most significant step toward a lifesaving breakthrough in 50 years.”
Pancreatic cancer is notoriously difficult to diagnose early due to its subtle symptoms, such as back pain and indigestion. As a result, many patients are diagnosed only after the cancer has advanced. Recent statistics indicate that a staggering 62% of patients in England and 65% in Wales receive a diagnosis at stage four. Survival rates are alarmingly low, with approximately 22% of individuals in England and 21% in Wales not surviving beyond 30 days after diagnosis.
Scientists at Imperial College London are leading the effort to change the trajectory of pancreatic cancer care with the new breath test. The test will be administered to 6,000 patients with undetermined diagnoses across 40 sites in England, Wales, and Scotland. If the test proves effective, there are hopes it could be implemented in general practice within five years, allowing for earlier diagnoses when treatment options may be more viable.
This extensive trial builds on a smaller study involving 700 patients over two years that yielded promising results. The breath test functions by detecting a range of “volatile organic compounds” found in a patient”s breath. These compounds circulate in the bloodstream, are processed by the lungs, and are expelled when a person exhales. Notably, alterations in these compounds can signal the presence of pancreatic cancer, even in its earliest stages. Results can be made available to general practitioners in as little as three days.
Currently, patients with suspected pancreatic cancer typically undergo imaging scans or are referred to hospitals for further testing. Diana Jupp, the CEO of Pancreatic Cancer UK, remarked, “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 necessary before this technology can be widely adopted by GPs, thousands of patients with unknown diagnoses will contribute to refining the test in real-world settings.
Professor George Hanna, head of the Department of Surgery and Cancer at Imperial College London and the project”s leader, 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 allows for a swift transition to patient validation studies, marking an exciting advancement in this crucial area of healthcare.
