Pancreatic cancer is a terrifying diagnosis. Also known as the silent killer, this type of cancer has traditionally been very hard to detect. This means that when it finally is discovered, it is often too late and the cancer has already reached a highly advanced stage. Representing about 8% of the cancer diagnosis in the United States, it was critical to find a way to detect it earlier, increasing patients’ chances of survival. This is just what researchers at Oregon Health and Science University have done. Even better news: That test is easy and inexpensive to administer. This discovery could revolutionize the world of cancer detection.
Breakthrough in Pancreatic Cancer Detection
The biggest reason why pancreatic cancer has been such a deadly diagnosis was our inability to detect it before it is too advanced to treat. A new blood test known as PAC-MANN has been developed by researchers at the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) to detect pancreatic cancer in its earliest stages, potentially improving survival rates for one of the world’s most infamous cancers. PAC-Mann stands for “protease activity-based assay using a magnetic nanosensor”. This nanosensor uses a small sample of blood to detect changes in protease activity, the key indicator of the most common and most lethal form of pancreatic cancer.
The Need for Early Detection
Pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, when treatment options are limited. Current tests, such as the carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9), although good at indicating prognosis, lack sensitivity for early-stage detection. From there, treatments are largely ineffective and the prognosis is grim. Ask anyone who has had a loved one pass away from this awful cancer and they will tell you the truth: The time from diagnosis to death is often only a few months, or even worse. This is where the PAC-MANN test aims to fill the gap by identifying signs of cancer-related activity in the blood, enabling the early detection of pancreatic cancer.
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Development of PAC-MANN Test
Led by scientists Jared Fischer, PhD, and Jose Luis Montoya Mira, PhD, researchers at OHSU developed the PAC-MANN test using a small blood sample to detect changes in protease activity. The test was designed to provide quick, accessible, and accurate screening for the disease.
“The problem with pancreatic cancer is that we often catch it too late,” Jared Fischer, Ph.D., a scientist with the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute’s Cancer Early Detection Advanced Research Center, or CEDAR, said in a press release. “Our goal with PAC-MANN is to give clinicians a tool that can detect the disease much earlier, when more treatment options are available and there is a better chance of survival.”
Promise of the PAC-MANN Test
In a study published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, the PAC-MANN test was able to distinguish patients with pancreatic cancer from healthy individuals and those with non-cancerous pancreatic issues with 98% accuracy. When used in conjunction with the CA 19-9 test, the PAC-MANN test displayed an 85% accuracy in detecting early-stage cancer.
One of the key advantages of the PAC-MANN test is its cost-effectiveness and accessibility. Requiring only a tiny blood sample and providing a simple fluorescent readout, the test can be conducted in just 45 minutes at a cost of less than a penny per sample. This is a huge breakthrough for pancreatic cancer screening. It’s low cost and ease of use make it a viable option for screening in rural and underserved settings where traditional tests may not be readily available. Who knows, it could even become a part of routine blood work, potentially saving thousands of lives.
“Our test could be used for people at high risk of pancreatic cancer, which is not targeted by current tests,” said lead scientists Jose Luis Montoya Mira. “It allows for a more robust and less invasive screening, unlike an endoscopic ultrasound and other liquid biopsy tests that require large volumes of blood, thus allowing our test to be performed more frequently for earlier detection.”
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Future Implications and Trials
Researchers at OHSU are planning further trials, including an investigator-initiated trial in collaboration with the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute and CEDAR. These trials will focus on patients at high risk of developing pancreatic cancer. If validated in clinical trials, the PAC-MANN test could become a valuable tool for the early detection of pancreatic cancer, offering patients more treatment options and improved chances of survival. This development will bring hope to the thousands of people who may one day be diagnosed with this terrible cancer.
A New Hope
The development of the PAC-MANN test represents a significant step forward in the early detection of pancreatic cancer. It has the potential to save lives by identifying the disease at a stage where more treatment options are available. Researchers are hopeful that this innovation marks a positive direction in the fight against cancer, emphasizing the importance of early detection and improved outcomes for patients. A test like this could also perhaps help scientists discover ways to improve the detection speeds of other cancers, as well. Congratulations to these incredible scientists – they given hope to people around the world.
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