Blood tests for early pancreatic cancer detection
BCAL Diagnostics expanded the availability of its Avantect blood test for early pancreatic and ovarian cancer detection across Australia on March 26, 2026, through partnerships with Sonic Healthcare and Healius Pathology Network. As of March 26, 2026, the test, which analyzes cell-free DNA, is available in select centers, having been launched privately in Australia on February 3, 2026. Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania and Mayo Clinic also demonstrated a 'cancer interception' approach in mice on March 25, 2026, nearly doubling survival rates by eliminating precancerous pancreatic cells. This research builds on a new blood test developed by the same institutions, funded by the NIH, which combines four protein biomarkers (ANPEP, PIGR, CA19-9, and THBS2) and shows 91.9% precision across all stages and 87.5% accuracy for early-stage pancreatic cancer (Stage I/II). Additionally, Clearnote Health launched its enhanced Avantect Pancreatic Cancer Test on February 27, 2026, an AI-powered blood test with an 82.6% sensitivity and 97.5% specificity in high-risk patients, while National Taiwan University Hospital developed PanMETAI, an AI-powered platform with up to 94% accuracy for early-stage detection.
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2026
9 updatesBCAL Diagnostics is expanding the availability of its Avantect blood test for early pancreatic and ovarian cancer detection across Australia through partnerships with Sonic Healthcare and Healius Pathology Network. The test analyzes cell-free DNA and has been available in select centers since January 2026.
via academicjobs.com·biotechdispatch.com.au·smallcaps.com.au
A preclinical study in mice demonstrated a 'cancer interception' approach that eliminated precancerous pancreatic cells before tumor development, nearly doubling survival rates. Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania and Mayo Clinic were involved in this development, which analyzes four protein biomarkers for early detection.
Researchers have developed a new blood test combining four protein biomarkers, including ANPEP, PIGR, CA19-9, and THBS2, which demonstrates 91.9% precision across all stages and 87.5% accuracy for early-stage pancreatic cancer (Stage I/II). This test can also differentiate pancreatic cancer from non-cancerous conditions like pancreatitis, reducing misdiagnosis. The research was funded by the NIH and involved institutions like the University of Pennsylvania and Mayo Clinic.
via ScienceDaily·MedlinePlus Magazine·National Institutes of Health
Researchers have developed PanMETAI, an AI-powered platform analyzing metabolic fingerprints in blood to detect early-stage pancreatic cancer with up to 94% accuracy. Separately, a study found a four-protein biomarker panel (ANPEP, PIGR, CA19-9, THBS2) demonstrated 87.5% accuracy in detecting early-stage pancreatic cancer (Stage I/II). These advancements offer new potential for earlier diagnosis.
via Penn Medicine
Clearnote Health has launched its enhanced Avantect Pancreatic Cancer Test, an AI-powered blood test designed to detect pancreatic cancer in high-risk individuals. The test analyzes blood for specific cancer-related molecules and uses AI to calculate a patient's risk level, showing an overall cancer detection sensitivity of 82.6% and specificity of 97.5% in high-risk patients.
via nih.gov
Researchers have identified two novel biomarker proteins, ANPEP and PIGR, in the blood that could potentially detect early-stage pancreatic cancer when combined with existing markers. Separately, National Taiwan University Hospital developed an AI-powered diagnostic model, PanMETAI, which can detect precancerous lesions and early-stage pancreatic cancer from blood serum with up to 90% accuracy.
via news.ohsu.edu
The 'Avantect Pancreatic Cancer Test', a new blood test for early detection, has been launched and is now privately available in Australia, offering another option for individuals at higher risk.
via pankind.org.au
The story gained wider media attention, with reports emphasizing the potential for improved diagnostic accuracy compared to current methods for early pancreatic cancer detection.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and Mayo Clinic are prospectively testing a four-protein biomarker panel to identify pancreatic cancer in at-risk patients. This development is part of ongoing efforts to find more effective diagnostic tools for the disease, aiming to improve early detection which is crucial for better treatment outcomes.
2025
8 updates
2025
8 updatesThe new blood test for pancreatic cancer has been named 'PancreaSure' and was developed by Immunovia with input from Penn Medicine, reaching key validation milestones.
via letswinpc.org
UCLA Health highlights a promising new blood test that analyzes microRNAs, small particles released from tumors, accurately detecting early-stage pancreatic cancer with 91% accuracy.
via uclahealth.org
The research team finalized the study data and prepared a detailed manuscript for submission to a leading scientific journal.
Researchers are investigating the Avantect blood test in a new study called SAFE-D, focusing on early pancreatic cancer detection in individuals aged 50-84 recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
The four-protein panel demonstrated significant diagnostic improvement, achieving an impressive 91.9% accuracy in detecting early-stage pancreatic cancer during validation tests.
Extensive validation studies commenced, utilizing diverse patient samples from institutions like the Mayo Clinic and the University of Pennsylvania to test the panel's performance.
Geneseeq Technology Inc. unveiled a new blood test utilizing cell-free DNA fragmentomics and AI, published in Nature Communications. Separately, Mainz Biomed NV reported significant progress with its multivariate RNA liquid biopsy test, achieving 100% sensitivity and 95% specificity in a feasibility study.
Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University have developed a new blood test named PAC-MANN that shows potential for earlier detection of pancreatic cancer. This test identifies changes in protease activity, a key indicator of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The PAC-MANN test has demonstrated 85% accuracy in detecting the cancer.
via ohsu.edu
2024
2 updates
2024
2 updatesDevelopment of a comprehensive four-protein panel, integrating ANPEP, PIGR, CA19-9, and THBS2, was undertaken to optimize detection accuracy.
Preliminary studies were conducted to evaluate ANPEP and PIGR, both individually and in combination with established markers like CA19-9 and THBS2.
2023
2 updates
2023
2 updatesResearchers identified ANPEP and PIGR as promising new blood markers, initiating focused investigation into their diagnostic potential for pancreatic cancer.
Initial research commenced at the Perelman School of Medicine to identify novel biomarkers for improving early detection methods for pancreatic cancer.
2026
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