Researchers trial a new blood test that could improve the early detection of pancreatic cancer

Wessex Research Hubs is taking part in a new trial to establish how well a new blood test can spot the signals of pancreatic cancer at an early stage

The Avantect test, developed by biotechnology company ClearNote Health, will use blood samples from people with a recent diagnosis of type 2 diabetes – a known risk factor and potential sign or symptom of pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer is the 10th most common cancer in the UK but the 5th most common cause of cancer death. Around 10,500 people in the UK are diagnosed with the disease each year*, while nearly half a million people are diagnosed every year worldwide**.

But because the symptoms of pancreatic cancer can be vague and often put down to other things such as a diabetes diagnosis, most patients are diagnosed at a late stage when the cancer has grown too large to be removed surgically. This means that survival is lower than for many other types of cancer. Around 1 in 10 (8.3%) people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in England survive their disease for 5 years or more.***

The SAFE-D study (Surveillance of pAncreatic health aFter diabEtes Diagnosis) is sponsored by University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UHS) and is led by Zaed Hamady, a consultant surgeon and pancreatic researcher at the University of Southampton, and will evaluate how well the test can detect pancreatic cancer at an earlier stage, when it is curable.

Mr Zaed Hamady, courtesty PLANETS charity

Mr Hamady said: “There is currently no targeted early detection or surveillance test for the disease meaning patients are often diagnosed late when they become really unwell. If we can develop approaches to detect the cancer sooner, then there are more options we may consider to treat the disease, and patients will have a much better chance of long-term survival.”

There are several known risk factors for pancreatic cancer, one of which is diabetes, a disease of the pancreatic cells that make the hormone insulin. People over 50 with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes have a 1 in 100 risk of also being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer within three years of diabetes diagnosis.

The SAFE-D study is therefore focusing on this patient group to trial the new DNA-based early detection blood test and see how well it is able to detect the cancer in its early stages.

Mr Hamady continues: “Although most people with diabetes will not go on to develop the disease, new onset diabetes is associated with a 6-8-fold increased risk. This patient group gives us a way to test how accurate the new diagnostic blood test is, and that could potentially help thousands of people in the future.”

The trial is now open at several community locations including the Wessex Research Hub in Portsmouth, Bournemouth and Weymouth.

Email wessexcrdc@uhs.nhs.uk to find out more about taking part in the hubs, and check your eligibility.

Dr Victoria Goss, Head of Early Diagnosis and Translational Research at the Southampton Clinical Trials Unit, said: “We know that some people struggle to access healthcare services and research trials due to where they live or their circumstances. Being able to take this study into the community through local research hubs and community hospitals is essential to ensuring we are making our trials equitable and hopefully helping to reduce health inequalities by making early cancer diagnosis more accessible to all.”

Samuel Levy, chief scientific officer of ClearNote Health, said: “ClearNote Health is focused on improving early detection of the deadliest cancers to enable patients to live longer, healthier lives. Our early data demonstrate that our Avantect test can identify pancreatic cancer in stages I and II. We are excited to collaborate with the Cancer Research UK Southampton Clinical Trials Unit and the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust on this transformative study that could redefine how pancreatic cancer is detected and managed for patients at high risk.”

Further information may be found at: https://safe-d.uk/ 

The SAFE-D study is primarily funded by ClearNote Health with additional financial support from Cancer Research UK Core funding at the Southampton Clinical Trials Unit and is sponsored by the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust. It is supported by Wessex Health Partners, a regional partnership bringing together Integrated Care Boards, top universities and leading NHS organisations, and offers excellence in research, innovation and health and care education.

Notes

* Figures from Cancer Research UK - https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/pancreatic-cancer

** Figures from the National Library of Medicine - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9476884/

*** Around 1 in 10 (8.3%) people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in England survive their disease for 5 years or more (2016-2020). Based on 5-year age-standardised net survival for pancreatic cancer, ICD10 C25. https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/cancer-survival-in-england/cancers-diagnosed-2016-to-2020-followed-up-to-2021/