City of Hope leads development of early-stage pancreatic cancer blood test

An international research team led by the US-based City of Hope has developed a new blood test, known as PANXEON, capable of detecting pancreatic cancer in its early stages. Published in Nature Medicine, the study utilized data from approximately 1,800 participants across the US, Europe, and Asia.

The liquid biopsy employs artificial intelligence to analyze three specific markers: circulating microRNA, exosomal microRNA, and the protein CA19-9. By combining these metrics into a single score, the algorithm estimates the likelihood of disease presence. In clinical testing, the method correctly identified 87% of pancreatic cancers at stages 1 and 2.

The test also demonstrated a low false-positive rate of 3% in low-risk groups and 16% in high-risk groups. Furthermore, the technology identified high-grade dysplasia—a serious precancerous alteration—in over 64% of cases. This development is significant because pancreatic cancer is typically diagnosed at advanced stages, where survival rates are notably lower.