Only 14% of pancreatic cancer patients live five years after diagnosis. It is the lowest survival rate of all cancers, and the explanation lies in a single fact. Around 90% of patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage , when the malignancy has already spread. This is precisely where a new blood test aims to intervene.
The method was developed by an international research team led by City of Hope , one of the largest and most specialized organizations in the US for cancer research and treatment. The relevant study was published in the journal Nature Medicine and presents a liquid biopsy called PANXEON , which shows high sensitivity in detecting both cancer and precancerous lesions .
The approach differs from the established ones. The test analyzes a blood sample for three markers , circulating microRNAs , extracellular microRNAs and a protein called CA19-9 . Then, through Artificial Intelligence , it combines the three measurements into a single score, which estimates the patient’s risk. This is not, in other words, another single indicator, but a complex model that exploits the correlation between different biological signals.
To test its reliability, the researchers tested the method on nearly 1,800 patients in the US , Europe and Asia , to see if the encouraging results of previous studies were confirmed in different clinical settings and populations.
The results are impressive. The test correctly identified pancreatic cancer at stages 1 and 2 in 87% of cases, with a false-positive rate of just 3% in the low-risk groups and 16% in the high-risk groups. This low false-positive rate is as critical as sensitivity, as each false alarm leads to unnecessary tests, invasive procedures and psychological distress for the test subject.
Perhaps the most important finding, however, concerns something that precedes the cancer itself. The test identified, in more than 64% of cases, high-grade dysplasia , an advanced precancerous condition often labeled “stage 0.”
The practical significance of this finding is great. It could help doctors more accurately identify which pancreatic cysts need active monitoring or intervention before they develop into cancer. This is one of the most difficult questions in daily clinical practice, as most cysts remain benign and the decision to operate on an organ as sensitive as the pancreas is never taken lightly.
If the method is confirmed on a wider scale, the change it promises is not just early diagnosis. It is the possibility of intervention before disease even occurs.
