A new blood test may help doctors detect pancreatic cancer earlier, giving patients a better chance at survival.
Scientists at Oregon Health & Science University developed the PAC-MANN test.
This test uses a tiny blood sample to spot changes in protease activity, a key sign of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC)—the most common and deadliest form of pancreatic cancer.
Pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed late, when treatment options are limited. Current tests like CA 19-9 aren’t sensitive enough for early detection. PAC-MANN fills this gap by spotting cancer activity early in the blood.
“The problem with pancreatic cancer is that we often catch it too late,” said Dr. Jared Fischer, a scientist at OHSU. “Our goal with PAC-MANN is to give doctors a tool that detects the disease much earlier, when treatment can work better.”
The research team, led by Dr. Jose Montoya Mira, created a faster, cheaper test that doesn’t need special equipment. It only takes a tiny blood sample and gives results in 45 minutes—at a cost of less than one cent per test.
The study, published in Science Translational Medicine, used blood samples from 350 people at OHSU. These included patients with pancreatic cancer, those at high risk, and healthy volunteers. PAC-MANN was able to correctly identify cancer in 98% of cases. It even detected early-stage cancer 85% of the time when combined with the CA 19-9 test.
After surgery, the test showed a drop in protease activity. This means it could help track how well treatments are working.
“This isn’t just about detection,” said Dr. Fischer. “We can also use this test to monitor treatment success and adjust care in real time.”
Next, the team plans to run more trials. If future studies confirm the results, PAC-MANN could become a powerful tool to catch pancreatic cancer early—especially in rural or underserved areas.
“Hopefully,” Fischer added, “this is one step toward ending cancer as we know it.”
The study is published in Science Translational Medicine.
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