Scientists from Van Andel Institute and the University of Pittsburgh have developed a new blood test for pancreatic cancer. This test is now being evaluated by a commercial lab, bringing it closer to patient use.
A recent study published in Cancer Letters showed that this experimental test accurately identified 71% of pancreatic cancer cases, significantly better than the current leading test, which only correctly identifies 44%. This promising development comes from the work of Professor Brian Haab and Dr. Randall E. Brand.
Before this test can be used in medical settings, it must undergo clinical validation. This means a certified lab will adapt it to ensure it meets strict clinical standards known as CLIA. This process is crucial. It ensures that the test is reliable for actual patient diagnoses.
“Validation studies are essential for transforming a test developed in an academic lab into one that is used to diagnose real people. For a person being evaluated for pancreatic cancer, the stakes are high. Validation studies ensure that new tests work as intended.”
— Brian Haab, Ph.D.
This new test works by detecting two molecules—CA199.STRA and CA19-9—that pancreatic cancer cells release into the bloodstream. CA19-9 is currently the main biomarker used for diagnosing the disease, but Haab’s lab has discovered CA199.STRA as a significant addition to this process.
According to the study, the new test greatly reduces false negatives while keeping the false positive rate low. These factors are essential for accurately identifying whether cancer is present or not.
ReligenDx, a CLIA-accredited lab in Pennsylvania, will conduct the clinical validation, which is expected to take about two years.
If this test passes validation, it could be used in two important ways: first, to detect pancreatic cancer sooner in high-risk individuals, allowing for earlier treatment; and second, to monitor how well treatments are working in patients already diagnosed with the disease.
Source
Journal reference: Haab, B., et al. (2024). A rigorous multi-laboratory study of known PDAC biomarkers identifies increased sensitivity and specificity over CA19-9 alone. Cancer Letters. doi.org/10.1016/j.canlet.2024.217245
Source link
Blood, Blood Test, Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer, Biomarker, Diagnostics, Laboratory, Medicine, pH, Research
