About 1.7% of people in the United States will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at some point in their lives. Despite being the Tenth most common type In the United States, pancreatic cancer is the third most common cause of cancer death.
Pancreatic cancer may not cause any signs or symptoms at first, making it difficult to detect early. But research funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) can improve detection and treatment.
Tools to find pancreatic cancer sooner
There is no routine screening test to detect pancreatic cancer early, but researchers at City of Hope Duarte Cancer Center in California tried to change that with a simple blood test. In a study of about 1,000 people, researchers analyzed a small sample of genetic material extracted from tumors and were able to detect early- and late-stage pancreatic cancer. While more studies are needed, researchers say this could help people who are already at high risk for pancreatic cancer.
Regular imaging tests may also benefit high-risk patients, according to a long-term research study at the Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center at Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center. The study included about 1,700 high-risk people, and researchers focused on 26 participants who had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Imaging tests, such as MRIs and ultrasoundThey were used to see the inside of the pancreas and other parts of the body. Monitoring the pancreas with regular imaging tests improved the likelihood of early-stage cancer diagnosis and increased life expectancy compared with those who were not screened.
Researchers are trying to improve the detection of pancreatic cancer in patients with a new blood test.
Treatment options using new and existing medications.
Chemotherapy It is a common treatment for early-stage pancreatic cancer, but it can cause serious side effects. In 2023, researchers found a promising new class of drugs, called KRAS inhibitors, that shrank pancreatic tumors caused by a genetic mutation or stopped their growth entirely. KRAS inhibitors have been used in many other cancer studies. However, these medications do not work in all patients when used alone. Researchers now believe that giving chemotherapy and KRAS inhibitors together may be more effective. A new study in mice showed that tumors grew and spread more slowly when the medications were used together compared to when each drug was used alone. This method could allow doctors to give patients lower doses of chemotherapy.
Studies in progress
In rare cases, a new diagnosis of diabetes can be an early sign of pancreatic cancer. About 1 in 4 people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer were first diagnosed with diabetes. And about 1 in 100 people with new-onset diabetes are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer within 3 years of being diagnosed with diabetes.
To find those cases, this study is evaluating a large cohort of people with newly diagnosed diabetes. Participants will give blood samples for three years, and researchers will look for changes in the blood of participants who develop pancreatic cancer during the study. Their goal is to develop a blood test that can identify which people with newly diagnosed diabetes need to be screened for pancreatic cancer.
Be part of future research
Learn more about emerging pancreatic cancer research at NCI website. Clinical trials are underway for early and late-stage cancers. Learn more about pancreatic clinical trials here. Scientific progress happens every year thanks to studies like these!
