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Pancreatic cancer: How a simple blood draw can give an early diagnosis?

Dr. George Nasioulas, Scientific Director of Genekor Medical S.A. and Molecular Biologist, PhD gave an interview on Shape.gr about liquid biopsies and how they change the prognosis of pancreatic cancer.  

Pancreatic cancer is among the most difficult types of cancer to diagnose, due to the late diagnosis that often accompanies the disease. Unlike other cancers, the early stages of pancreatic cancer can progress silently, with no clear symptoms, making early detection difficult and reducing treatment options. However, new technologies in the field of medical research now make it possible to detect cancer in its early stages, thanks to liquid biopsies – diagnostic tests that require only a blood draw and are designed to detect signs of cancer before they become visible with traditional methods.

What are liquid biopsies?

Liquid biopsies are a modern method of cancer diagnosis where, instead of removing tissue, a simple blood draw is all that is needed to analyse DNA and other cellular components circulating in the blood. With this procedure, you can detect cancer cells and identify epigenetic modifications associated with cancer, such as changes in DNA methylation associated with pancreatic cancer. This means that a diagnosis can be made much earlier than with traditional methods, which require more complex and time-consuming procedures such as imaging tests and tissue biopsies.

Avantect®: a pioneering test for pancreatic cancer

One of the technologies that has developed the use of liquid biopsies is the Avantect® platform, which is based on innovative DNA analysis techniques to detect cancer signals from blood. Through the analysis of DNA methylation signatures, this test can detect the early stages of pancreatic cancer, offering the opportunity to the patients to start treatment before the cancer reaches advanced stages.

Simply put, Avantect® can detect changes in DNA that indicate the presence of cancer before there are any obvious symptoms. This makes it a valuable tool not only for prevention and early diagnosis but also for reducing mortality associated with the disease.

Who is the test for?

This test is useful for people who belong to high-risk groups for pancreatic cancer. More specifically:

• People with a primary diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus, over the age of 50: New scientific studies show that about 1 in 100 people in this group may develop pancreatic cancer within the first three years of being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

• People with an increased family history of cancer or carriers of inherited mutations in high-risk genes: People with relatives who have developed pancreatic cancer or other types of cancer associated with mutations in high-risk genes may have an increased chance of developing the disease.

For these individuals, the Avantect® test offers the opportunity for preventive screening, reducing the risk of the disease being discovered at an advanced stage.

How does the test work?

The test is based on the analysis of DNA found in a blood sample and detects specific epigenetic changes, such as DNA methylation, that are associated with pancreatic cancer. Scientists have discovered that the methylation process can act as a “signature” for certain cancers, including pancreatic cancer.

Through precise DNA analysis and artificial intelligence technologies, Avantect® can identify these signatures, allowing cancer to be diagnosed much earlier than with traditional methods. Early diagnosis can make a difference and these technologies are an important step towards prevention and better treatment of the disease.