Pac-mann blood test can soon detect the most common and lethal pancreatic type of pancreatic cancer
Summary
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal forms of the disease in Brazil, due to difficult diagnosis. The new blood test can contribute to early detection and improvement of survival rates.
By occupying the seventh position, Pancreas cancer is among the most lethal in Brazil, according to the National Cancer Institute (Inca), which is mainly due to its difficult diagnosis. “Pancreas cancer has a very aggressive behavior and is often diagnosed only in the advanced phases, when the treatments are limited. And the type of the most lethal condition, called the Ductal Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma (PDAC), is also the most common, corresponding to 90% of the diagnosed cases “, detail Ramon Andrade de Mello, oncologist of São Paulo, vice president of the Brazilian cancerological society, an honorary post-dartic foundation at the University of Oxford (England).
To fill the gap of difficult diagnosis, the researchers have developed a blood test that can help in early diagnosis of this type of cancer, thus improving survival rates. The discovery was published in February in the magazine Scientific translational medicine.
The examination presented in the study, called PAC-MANN (acronym for analysis based on the activity of the protease using a magnetic nanosensor), uses a small blood sample to detect changes in the activity of the protease, a key pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC).
“This type of cancer comes from the cells of the pancreatic duct and the big problem is that in many cases we can only identify it when it is too late. This is because the tests available today, such as the Ca 19-9 tumor marker, are not sensitive enough to soon detect the disease, although they are good prognosis indicators “, says Ramon.
This new exam, therefore, helps identify the PDAC previously. The test was created by blood samples of 350 patients who had pancreas cancer, they had risk factors for the disease or were used as a control. In these samples, the researchers identified the proteins, in particular the proteases, who were more active in people with PDAC and therefore created a specific examination to detect them.
In the tests, the Pac-Mann exam was able to distinguish healthy patients, with pancreatic carcinoma and non-cancerous pancreatic problems in 98% of the time. In addition, it has contributed to identifying early PDAC with the precision of 85% if used together with the Ca 19-9 exam.
Therefore, the test is particularly useful for people with risk factors for pancreas cancer as it allows effective and at the same time, less invasive than an endoscopic ultrasound or other liquid biopsies that require large volumes of blood. With this, the test can be performed more often for early detection.
“The main risk factors for pancreas cancer are obesity, smoke and often those patients who have chronic pancreatitis. And since it is a difficult disease to diagnose that hardly has early symptoms, regular screening is essential, especially for these patients, “says the doctor.
According to Ramon Andrade de Mello, the possibility of early diagnosis provided by the Pac-mann test translates into several treatment options and greater possibilities of survival. “The choice of treatment depends on the severity of the case and on the fact that the disease is operable or not. If you operate, it is possible to indicate surgery, which improves the prognosis. Another option is to perform chemotherapy followed by surgery and later returned with chemotherapy. In turn, if the disease is already widespread by the body, chemotherapy is used in insulation. However, in metastatic disease, survival is short and can vary, on average, from 6 to 11 months, depending on the treatment used “, says the doctor, says,
But in addition to being able to detect the disease soon, the test can also be effective to monitor the evolution of the treatment, because, after surgery, the researchers observed a decrease in protease’s activity. “So the test can also help measure the effectiveness of the treatment and guide therapeutic strategies, because by monitoring the patient’s response in real time, it allows a better decision -making process, thus improving the results,” says the doctor.
Another advantage of the exam, according to the researchers, is its accessibility: it requires only 0.008 milliliters of blood and 45 minutes to be performed for a cost of less than a penny per sample. However, multiple tests are required before the exam is widely available for use, which is already in the researchers’ plans. “The Pac-Mann exam, if validated in future research, can become an indispensable tool for diagnosis, treatment and improvement of the prognosis of pancreas cancer,” concludes Ramon Andrade de Mello.
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Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
