Pancreatic cancer detection and treatment research
Penn Medicine announced on April 25, 2026, advancements in pancreatic cancer research, including a preclinical study in mice aimed at intercepting tumor development and a promising KRAS inhibitor drug in clinical trials. As of April 28, 2026, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is funding research for early detection and treatment, utilizing novel biomarkers and AI in blood tests, though experts emphasize the need for further validation. Researchers at City of Hope Duarte Cancer Center developed a blood test analyzing small RNA molecules, achieving 97% accuracy in identifying early-stage pancreatic cancer when combined with a CA19-9 test in a study of nearly 1,000 participants. BCAL 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. Other advancements include a four-protein biomarker panel demonstrating 87.5% accuracy for early-stage detection and AI-powered platforms like PanMETAI, showing up to 94% accuracy in detecting early-stage pancreatic cancer.
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April 2026 — 3 developments
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is funding research for early pancreatic cancer detection and treatment, including novel biomarkers and AI in blood tests.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is funding research for early pancreatic cancer detection and treatment, including novel biomarkers and AI in blood tests. Experts emphasize the need for further validation in larger studies to confirm efficacy and clinical utility.
Penn Medicine is advancing pancreatic cancer research with a preclinical study in mice aimed at intercepting tumor development by eliminating precancerous lesions.
Penn Medicine is advancing pancreatic cancer research with a preclinical study in mice aimed at intercepting tumor development by eliminating precancerous lesions. Additionally, a KRAS inhibitor drug is showing promise in clinical trials, potentially transforming pancreatic cancer into a more manageable chronic condition.
Researchers at City of Hope Duarte Cancer Center have developed a blood test that analyzes small RNA molecules.
Researchers at City of Hope Duarte Cancer Center have developed a blood test that analyzes small RNA molecules. When used in conjunction with a CA19-9 test, it demonstrated 97% accuracy in identifying individuals with early-stage pancreatic cancer in a study of nearly 1,000 participants.
March 2026 — 4 developments
BCAL Diagnostics is expanding the availability of its Avantect blood test for early pancreatic and o…
BCAL 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.
A preclinical study in mice demonstrated a 'cancer interception' approach that eliminated precancerous pancreatic cells before tumor development, nearly doubling survival rates.
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.
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.
Researchers have developed PanMETAI, an AI-powered platform analyzing metabolic fingerprints in blood to detect early-stage pancreatic cancer with up to 94% accuracy.
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.
February 2026 — 4 developments
Clearnote Health has launched its enhanced Avantect Pancreatic Cancer Test, an AI-powered blood test designed to detect pancreatic cancer in high-risk individuals.
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.
Researchers have identified two novel biomarker proteins, ANPEP and PIGR, in the blood that could po…
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.
The 'Avantect Pancreatic Cancer Test', a new blood test for early detection, has been launched and i…
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.
The story gained wider media attention, with reports emphasizing the potential for improved diagnostic accuracy compared to current methods for early pancreatic cancer detection.
The story gained wider media attention, with reports emphasizing the potential for improved diagnostic accuracy compared to current methods for early pancreatic cancer detection.
January 2026 — 1 developments
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.
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.
December 2025 — 3 developments
The new blood test for pancreatic cancer has been named 'PancreaSure' and was developed by Immunovia with input from Penn Medicine, reaching key validation milestones.
The new blood test for pancreatic cancer has been named 'PancreaSure' and was developed by Immunovia with input from Penn Medicine, reaching key validation milestones.
UCLA Health highlights a promising new blood test that analyzes microRNAs, small particles released …
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.
The research team finalized the study data and prepared a detailed manuscript for submission to a leading scientific journal.
The research team finalized the study data and prepared a detailed manuscript for submission to a leading scientific journal.
November 2025 — 1 developments
Researchers are investigating the Avantect blood test in a new study called SAFE-D, focusing on earl…
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.
October 2025 — 1 developments
The four-protein panel demonstrated significant diagnostic improvement, achieving an impressive 91.
The four-protein panel demonstrated significant diagnostic improvement, achieving an impressive 91.9% accuracy in detecting early-stage pancreatic cancer during validation tests.
June 2025 — 1 developments
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.
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.
May 2025 — 1 developments
Geneseeq Technology Inc.
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.
February 2025 — 1 developments
Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University have developed a new blood test named PAC-MANN that shows potential for earlier detection of pancreatic cancer.
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.
November 2024 — 1 developments
Development of a comprehensive four-protein panel, integrating ANPEP, PIGR, CA19-9, and THBS2, was undertaken to optimize detection accuracy.
Development of a comprehensive four-protein panel, integrating ANPEP, PIGR, CA19-9, and THBS2, was undertaken to optimize detection accuracy.
May 2024 — 1 developments
Preliminary studies were conducted to evaluate ANPEP and PIGR, both individually and in combination with established markers like CA19-9 and THBS2.
Preliminary studies were conducted to evaluate ANPEP and PIGR, both individually and in combination with established markers like CA19-9 and THBS2.
September 2023 — 1 developments
Researchers identified ANPEP and PIGR as promising new blood markers, initiating focused investigation into their diagnostic potential for pancreatic cancer.
Researchers identified ANPEP and PIGR as promising new blood markers, initiating focused investigation into their diagnostic potential for pancreatic cancer.
January 2023 — 1 developments
Initial research commenced at the Perelman School of Medicine to identify novel biomarkers for improving early detection methods for pancreatic cancer.
Initial research commenced at the Perelman School of Medicine to identify novel biomarkers for improving early detection methods for pancreatic cancer.