PanCAN aims to develop an early detection strategy for the world’s toughest cancer by examining the imaging at the time of emerging diabetes
THE ANGEL, April 13, 2021 / PRNewswire / – The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) is today making an ambitious step forward to early detection of pancreatic cancer. It launched its Screening Initiative, the largest interventional study of its kind looking at emerging diabetes and its correlation with pancreatic cancer. PanCAN will investigate the question: Does imaging at the time of emerging diabetes lead to earlier detection of pancreatic cancer?
If diagnosed early during surgery, the 5-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer can be as high as 80 percent. More often, however, the disease is diagnosed late, when the cancer has already spread. At this point, the five-year survival rate is less than five percent.
Does imaging at the time of emerging diabetes lead to earlier detection of pancreatic cancer? PanCAN wants to find out.
Pancreatic cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States and has one of the lowest survival rates of any cancer. Only 10 percent of diagnosed patients survive five years or more. Because symptoms are often vague and mimic other diseases or conditions, most patients are diagnosed when they are already in the late stages of the disease. Finding a pancreatic tumor early, if it can be surgically removed, is vital.
There is currently no standard screening test such as a mammogram or colonoscopy for early detection of pancreatic cancer. While we know that risk factors like a first-degree relative or certain gene mutations can make someone more likely to develop pancreatic cancer, recent research also suggests that a small proportion of people who have diabetes over the age of 50 do so Fall is actually an early symptom of pancreatic cancer. The PanCAN Early Detection Initiative will focus on this population and examine changes in their blood sugar and weight and the relationship between the development and early detection of pancreatic cancer.
“The ability to identify groups at risk for pancreatic cancer screening has been a top priority for PanCAN and the research community for many years,” he said Julie Fleshman, JD, MBA, President and CEO of PanCAN. “This initiative is an ambitious endeavor and a significant investment for PanCAN. We hope that the results of this study will lead to an early detection strategy for the disease.”
The story goes on
PanCAN invests $ 25 million in this study and in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and an expert team of researchers, clinicians, statisticians and diagnosticians from across the country. PanCAN began developing the early detection initiative in 2018 and the protocol received institutional review board (IRB) approval in 2020.
PanCAN’s early detection initiative is a randomized controlled trial. Eligible participants will be identified via electronic patient records in participating facilities in order to find patients for diabetes at the earliest possible point in time. Only people identified by their facility’s electronic health records can participate in the study.
In addition to imaging tests for potential patients who agree to participate in the PanCAN initiative for early detection, blood samples are also taken. The blood samples will be pooled with samples taken as part of the NCI’s New Onset Diabetes Study to look for blood-based biomarkers that indicate the early presence of pancreatic cancer. The ultimate goal will be to update the current clinical guidelines in order to develop a screening approach that will allow clinicians to detect pancreatic cancer earlier in a subset of patients.
“We are excited to work with PanCAN on this important effort to better understand the link between emerging diabetes and pancreatic cancer,” said Norman E. “Ned” Sharpless, MD, director of the NCI. “We hope that this collaboration will lead to new opportunities for the early detection of pancreatic cancer that have a meaningful impact on patients’ lives.”
PanCAN takes a comprehensive approach to increasing survival through groundbreaking, large-scale research initiatives aimed at early detection of pancreatic cancer and better treatment options. In October, Precision launched PromiseSM, an adaptive clinical trial now enrolling patients in 15 world-class cancer institutions, with the goal of getting new and better treatments approved faster. PanCAN has invested roughly since 2003 $ 126 million in pancreatic cancer research. This year alone, PanCAN will invest a record despite a global pandemic $ 23 million about his research initiatives. This investment is only possible with the support of generous donors.
To determine if you are at increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer, take our risk assessment test here.
If you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed, please call PanCAN Patient Services at 877-2-PANCAN (877-272-6226) M-F, 7am – – 5 p.m. PT or send an email to patientcentral@pancan.org.
You can find more information about the early detection initiative at pancan.org. For information on downloading additional media items, including graphics and b-roll, see the PanCAN Early Detection Initiative media kit.
Via the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) is a leader in accelerating critical progress in pancreatic cancer patients. PanCAN is taking bold action by funding life-saving research, providing personalized patient services, and creating a community of supporters and volunteers who will stop at nothing to create a world where all pancreatic cancer patients will thrive.
Media contact:
Julie Vasquez, Senior manager, public relations
Action network for pancreatic cancer
Direct: 310-697-9129 | Email: jvasquez@pancan.org
The PanCAN risk assessment test can help you determine if you are at increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer.
The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) is dedicated to fighting the toughest cancer in the world. In our urgent mission to save lives, we fight pancreatic cancer on all fronts: research, clinical initiatives, patient services and advocacy. Our efforts are reinforced by a nationwide network of grassroots support. We are determined to improve outcomes for patients now diagnosed and those diagnosed in the future. (PRNewsfoto / Pancreatic Cancer Action Network)
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SOURCE Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
