Charity hails ‘breakthrough’ in pancreatic cancer screening

Stool samples could soon help doctors spot early signs of pancreatic cancer, according to a new study.

The findings are published in the journal, Gut.

The study found 27 microbes that could be used to distinguish between people without the disease and those who are in its early or advanced stages.

The researchers recruited 136 volunteers at two hospitals, one in Madrid and one in Barcelona.

Some of the patients had pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, while the others were used as a control group.

The researchers analysed spit and stool samples to see if there was any difference between the two groups.

While the saliva samples didn’t reveal anything, the stools showed a distinctive pattern or genomic profile of gut bacteria, fungi and other microbes.

This pattern consistently identified patients at all stages of the disease, suggesting that the profiles could emerge early on.

The findings could lead to a new screening test for pancreatic cancer.

Dr Helen Rippon, chief executive of Worldwide Cancer Research, said:

“This new breakthrough builds on the growing evidence that the microbiome – the collection of microorganisms that live side by side with the cells inside our body – is linked to the development of cancer.

“What’s amazing about this discovery is that the microbiome of stool samples from patients could be used to help diagnose pancreatic cancer early.

“Early detection and diagnosis are just as important an approach to starting new cancer cures as developing treatments.

“This research provides hope that an effective, non-invasive way to diagnose pancreatic cancer early is on the horizon.”

Pancreatic cancer develops when cells in the pancreas grow out of control, forming a tumour.

There are different types of pancreatic cancer which are treated in different ways.

Anyone can get the disease, but the risk increases with age.