Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers worldwide. Only 13% of patients survive for five years or more after being diagnosed. In Ireland alone, around 900 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer each year, and about 820 die from it. The biggest challenge in treating this cancer is detecting it early, as early diagnosis can significantly improve survival rates.
One of the main reasons pancreatic cancer is so difficult to catch early is that its symptoms are vague. Because of this, most cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage when treatment options are limited.
Researchers from Trinity College Dublin’s Maher lab are working to solve this problem by studying pancreatic cystic lesions—fluid-filled sacs found in or on the pancreas. Some of these cysts are harmless, while others have the potential to turn into cancer.
Their recent study, published in Scientific Reports, focuses on identifying high-risk pancreatic cysts to improve early detection.
A New Way to Identify High-Risk Patients
Currently, doctors use different guidelines worldwide to classify pancreatic cysts as either low-risk or high-risk. However, because these guidelines vary, doctors sometimes struggle to agree on how to categorize patients. This lack of consistency makes it even harder to detect pancreatic cancer early.
The research team from the Maher lab has taken a different approach. They discovered that certain proteins and genetic materials in a patient’s blood and in the fluid from their pancreatic cysts appear at different levels depending on whether the person is at high or low risk of developing pancreatic cancer.
These biological markers, or “biomarkers,” have been combined into a new panel that can more accurately distinguish between high-risk and low-risk patients.
What This Means for Pancreatic Cancer Detection
The results of this study could have a major impact on how pancreatic cancer is detected and monitored. If validated in larger studies, this biomarker panel could allow doctors to identify high-risk patients much earlier than current methods. This would make it possible to monitor these patients more closely and, in some cases, start treatment before the cancer spreads.
Another major benefit of this research is that it could lead to less invasive ways of diagnosing pancreatic cancer. Right now, monitoring pancreatic cysts often involves complex imaging tests or even surgery. The Maher lab’s approach could make patient surveillance simpler and more comfortable.
Sharing Data to Improve Future Research
The team has also made four large datasets publicly available, allowing researchers around the world to use this data to develop new treatments or further investigate how pancreatic cysts turn into cancer. This new dataset, which has not been available online before, could help scientists uncover key biological processes involved in pancreatic cancer development.
Looking Ahead
Dr. Laura Kane, senior author of the study, emphasized that the goal of this research is to improve outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients. “In this study, we have created a promising biomarker panel that could help us identify people at high risk of developing pancreatic cancer.
Our hope is that, with further research, this tool will allow us to monitor high-risk patients more effectively and detect cancer at an earlier stage, improving survival rates.”
Professor Stephen Maher, the research group leader, highlighted that understanding how pancreatic cysts contribute to cancer development is crucial. “We also hope this research will lead to a much less invasive way to monitor patients, making the process easier for both patients and doctors.”
Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most challenging cancers to treat, but research like this could provide a much-needed breakthrough in early detection and patient care.
If you care about cancer risk, please read studies that exercise may stop cancer in its tracks, and vitamin D can cut cancer death risk.
For more information about cancer, please see recent studies that yogurt and high-fiber diet may cut lung cancer risk, and results showing that new cancer treatment may reawaken the immune system.
The research findings can be found in Scientific Reports.
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