Led by Dr John Timms (UCL Women's Cancer) and Dr Stephen
Pereira (UCL Liver & Digestive Health), the researchers used blood samples
taken from patients before the appearance of symptoms to test for four key
markers.
When used in combination, two of these markers, CA19-9 and
CA125, were identified as being sensitive enough to detect pancreatic cancer up
to two years before clinical presentation.
Although previous research has found increased levels of the
biomarker CA19-9 close to disease presentation, this is the first study to find
increased levels present in the early stages of pancreatic cancer.
When screened for on its own, CA19-9 can give false positive
results as increased levels are also found in those suffering from benign
diseases such as pancreatitis and obstructive jaundice. However, the study
found that also screening for CA125 improved the sensitivity of detecting pre-clinical
pancreatic cancer.
Dr Timms said: “We have for the first time assessed these
biomarkers in unique serum samples taken months to years prior to the clinical
diagnosis of pancreatic cancer that were sourced from the UK Collaborative
Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening (UKCTOCS). The work challenges the prevailing
view that CA19-9 is up-regulated late in the course of pancreatic cancer
development and suggests its potential for screening in high-risk groups,
particularly if used longitudinally.”
Commenting on the future of the research Dr Pereira said: “Plans
are now underway with London Cancer to set up pilot Multidisciplinary
Diagnostic Centres for specialist triage and to enhance straight to test
pathways with primary care, combining risk assessment and symptom tools with
biomarkers to hopefully improve early cancer diagnosis for patients.”
The research was funded and supported by Pancreatic Cancer
UK, Cancer Research UK, the US National Institutes of Health, the National
Institute for Health Research (NIHR) University College London Hospitals
Biomedical Research Centre and the NIHR Liverpool Pancreas Biomedical Research
Unit.