A new blood test, developed by researchers at Oregon Health & Science University, can identify pancreatic cancer even when it is asymptomatic, with an accuracy of 97%, raising hopes for much earlier diagnosis of this deadly disease.
Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most difficult cancers to diagnose and treat. It is often detected at an advanced stage, when treatment options are limited. Currently, only about 10% of patients live more than five years after diagnosis, while over half die within three months of diagnosis.
The new technique is based on the analysis of blood samples, where tiny electrical impulses on a microchip identify particles released by tumors. These particles are made visible through a process that makes them "light up", making it easier to identify signs of cancer.
The study analyzed samples from 36 people, including patients with pancreatic cancer and individuals with non-cancerous conditions such as pancreatitis. The test was performed blindly, without the researchers' knowledge of the samples' affiliation, and was able to correctly identify cancer cases in 97% of them.
This method is more accurate than traditional pancreatic biopsies, which through invasive procedures achieve an accuracy of about 79%.
However, experts estimate that it will take about five years before this technology is widely used in clinical practice.
There are currently no effective tests for early detection of this cancer, and about 80% of patients are only diagnosed after the disease has spread. Pancreatic cancer progresses aggressively, affecting other organs such as the liver and lungs, and often leading to organ failure.
The most common symptoms include yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), weight loss, fatigue, high fever and digestive problems, but these usually appear in the late stages.
Early detection is considered key to increasing the chances of survival, and this new test could be an important step towards this goal. /GazetaExpress/
t7 live
