A new breath test could 'revolutionise' care for pancreatic cancer patients, experts have said. In a world-first initiative, the test is being trialled for the disease, which is notoriously hard to spot in its early stages due to vague symptoms such as back pain and indigestion.
Pancreatic Cancer UK, which is funding the study, said the launch of the trial was 'the most significant step toward a life-saving breakthrough in 50 years'. A recent audit found that 62 per cent of patients in England and 65 per cent in Wales are diagnosed at stage four, when the cancer has already spread.
Scientists at Imperial College London are leading the trial, which will test the breath test on 6,000 patients with an unknown diagnosis across 40 sites in England, Wales and Scotland. If proven effective, it could be rolled out in GP surgeries within five years, enabling earlier diagnosis when treatment may be more effective.
The test detects a combination of 'volatile organic compounds' in the breath, which change even in the earliest stages of cancer. Results could be available to GPs in just three days, compared to current methods that require scans or hospital referrals.
Diana Jupp, chief executive of Pancreatic Cancer UK, said: 'The breath test has the potential to revolutionise the early detection of pancreatic cancer. It is, undoubtedly, the most significant step toward a lifesaving breakthrough in 50 years.' Professor George Hanna of Imperial College London added: 'If our findings can be validated, it has huge potential to influence clinical practice.'
