Pancreatic cancer could be diagnosed years earlier

Health 16:20 01.11.2022
Pancreatic cancer could be identified in patients up to three years earlier than current diagnoses, new research from the U.K. shows. 
 
Weight loss and increasing blood glucose levels are early indicators of pancreatic cancer and could lead to a more timely diagnosis, helping to improve survival rates.
 
In the largest study of its kind, researchers from the University of Surrey in the U.K., in partnership with Pancreatic Cancer Action and the University of Oxford, investigated signs of pancreatic cancer, including weight loss, hyperglycemia and diabetes and demonstrated the timelines for when they develop in relation to cancer. 
 
The pancreas is an organ with two key functions, to produce insulin and digestive enzymes. Cancer can affect one or both of these functions leading to the above symptoms. Currently, almost 90% of people with pancreatic cancer are diagnosed too late for curative treatment.
 
Poor survival rates
 
Lead author Agnieszka Lemanska, lecturer in Data Science at the University of Surrey, said:
 
“Due to the difficulty in detecting pancreatic cancer, survival rates are extremely poor compared to other cancers, with less than 10% of people surviving five years or more after diagnosis.
 
“Weight loss and increased blood glucose are recognised symptoms of pancreatic cancer. However, the extent of these symptoms and when they manifest have been unknown. Knowing when they develop will help clinicians to diagnose this deadly cancer, meaning treatment can begin earlier.”
 
Ali Stunt, founder and CEO of Pancreatic Cancer Action, and pancreatic cancer survivor, said: “I was lucky to be diagnosed in time for surgery and ‘beat the odds’, but sadly this is not the case for everyone. Symptoms for pancreatic cancer are ambiguous and difficult for clinicians to diagnose; it was originally thought I had gallstones.
 
“I am one of the 1% who survive pancreatic cancer beyond 10 years, and it’s a lonely place to be.”
 
Data analysis
 
Using the Oxford-Royal College of General Practitioners Clinical Informatics Digital Hub (ORCHID), researchers analyzed the data of 8,777 patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and compared it to a control group of 34,979.
 
Researchers found dramatic weight loss in people with pancreatic cancer could be detected two years before they received an official diagnosis. At the time of diagnosis, body max index (BMI) was lower in those with pancreatic cancer by three units. 
 
The elevation in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was detectable even earlier, from three years before the diagnosis.
Further statistical analysis revealed weight loss in people with diabetes was associated with a higher risk of pancreatic cancer than in those without the condition. It was also found hyperglycemia in people without diabetes was associated with a higher risk of pancreatic cancer than in people with diabetes.
 
Simon de Lusignan of the University of Oxford said: “Our research suggests that a dramatic and unexplained weight loss, mainly in people with, but also in those without diabetes, as well as an unexplained hyperglycemia, should be treated with high levels of suspicion.”
 
Findings from the study have led researchers to call for clinicians to conduct BMI and HbA1c assessments more regularly for their patients with and without diabetes. This would help identify those with pancreatic cancer. 
 
de Lusignan added: “BMI and HbA1c are simple measures routinely collected in clinical practice. However, the challenge for research is the irregular testing of BMI and HbA1c and missing data. For example, we see that BMI and HbA1c were more scarcely recorded for people without a diagnosis of diabetes than for people with diabetes. 
 
“Data-driven approaches could be important tools that help clinicians identify patients at risk. However, this relies on the quality and completeness of data. Regular HbA1c and BMI measurements in primary care would not only improve diabetes and pancreatic cancer diagnoses but would also improve the quality of routine data for research.”
 
Lemanska said: “Significant decline in weight and increase in blood glucose could be detected in patients’ years in advance of them receiving a diagnosis for pancreatic cancer. This makes these metabolic changes important candidates for pancreatic cancer markers. However, with diabetes being so much more prevalent than pancreatic cancer, it is difficult in clinical practice to recognize pancreatic cancer-induced hyperglycemia.”
Azerbaijan takes measures to turn Khankandi into safe city - VİDEO

News line

Russian MFA concerned about upcoming Armenia-US-EU meeting
12:23 28.03.2024
Secret Points of Pashinyan's Meeting with French Representative: Is Peace Agreement Signing Imminent?
12:00 28.03.2024
Armenia announces recruitment of border guards to work at Zvartnots
Armenia announces recruitment of border guards to work at Zvartnots
11:47 28.03.2024
The US-Armenia-EU Joint Conference is a part of the pressure plan on Azerbaijan - MP Konul Nurullayeva
11:30 28.03.2024
Azerbaijan’s central bank reduces discount rate
Azerbaijan’s central bank reduces discount rate
11:23 28.03.2024
CSTO chief: ‘Yerevan doesn’t participate in our work, but there are no statements about suspension’
11:13 28.03.2024
Ammunition found in Khankandi
Ammunition found in Khankandi
11:00 28.03.2024
Russia had been aware of preparation for terrorist attack at Crocus - says intelligience chief
10:46 28.03.2024
Scholtz reveals date of his last telephone conversation with Putin
Scholtz reveals date of his last telephone conversation with Putin
10:33 28.03.2024
Head of the SSS: France is inciting Armenia to a new war
10:21 28.03.2024
Are we in the brink of World War III? - Pundit talks on Ednews
10:10 28.03.2024
Azerbaijan's National Security: Reflecting on 105 Years of Defending Sovereignty
09:55 28.03.2024
Hikmat Hajiyev: Rasmussen fell in forgetfulness to attach payment to his report
09:35 28.03.2024
Hand grenades found in Kalbajar
09:25 28.03.2024
Titanic 'door' prop that kept Rose alive sells for $718,750
Titanic 'door' prop that kept Rose alive sells for $718,750
08:50 28.03.2024
Twitch's biggest streamer diagnosed with cancer diagnosis at 32
23:55 27.03.2024
Azerbaijan's former Minister of National Security passes away
22:41 27.03.2024
Russia has no unfriendly states, only unfriendly elites — Putin
22:25 27.03.2024
Erdogan vows to make efforts for implementation of UN resolution regarding Gaza
Erdogan vows to make efforts for implementation of UN resolution regarding Gaza
21:44 27.03.2024
Russian MFA: France's presence in the Caucasus is of an intelligence nature
21:00 27.03.2024
Record numbers of migrants arrive in UK in 2024
20:42 27.03.2024
Leo Docherty appointed new UK Minister of State for Armed Forces
Leo Docherty appointed new UK Minister of State for Armed Forces
19:34 27.03.2024
MFA: ‘We reject anti-Azerbaijani allegations in the report prepared by Friends of Armenia Network’
19:00 27.03.2024
Armenian Speaker: We are looking for people who consider those villages to be Armenian territory
18:42 27.03.2024
France evacuates over 170 nationals from Haiti
France evacuates over 170 nationals from Haiti
18:19 27.03.2024
Iran's Concerns Over Enclave Villages Return Highlight Geopolitical Complexities - Iranian political scientest talks on Ednews
18:00 27.03.2024
New details of the Crocus terrorist attack have been revealed - two suspects transited through Türkiye
17:33 27.03.2024
Political Scientist Turab Rzayev Weighs in on Armenia's "Great Armenia" Ambitions: Pashinyan's Realism or Rhetoric?
17:00 27.03.2024
Armenian did not join statement of CSTO PA condemning terrorist act in Crocus
Armenian did not join statement of CSTO PA condemning terrorist act in Crocus
16:39 27.03.2024
Political Scientist Criticizes EU Representative's Remarks on Azerbaijani Media Threats Against Armenia
15:55 27.03.2024
Pele's record in Brazilian national team broken
Pele's record in Brazilian national team broken
15:27 27.03.2024
Simonyan: Yerevan, Moscow not discuss withdrawal of Russian border guards from Armenian-Turkish border
15:18 27.03.2024
Tofig Abbasov: Armenia Seeks to Amplify Anti-Azerbaijani Sentiments in Georgia
15:01 27.03.2024
Russian parliament asks for investigation into 'western financing of terrorist acts'
14:46 27.03.2024
French company Delair to supply Ukraine with 400 reconnaissance drones
14:33 27.03.2024
Thailand moves to legalise same-sex marriage
Thailand moves to legalise same-sex marriage
14:19 27.03.2024
First residents to return to Khojaly in May
14:09 27.03.2024
Azerbaijan weather forecast for March 28
Azerbaijan weather forecast for March 28
14:00 27.03.2024
"Russia's attack to Caucasus after Ukraine is unfounded" - Vasa László
13:38 27.03.2024
Deputy PM Shahin Mustafayev visited Russian embassy in Baku, expressed his condolences over terrorist attack
Deputy PM Shahin Mustafayev visited Russian embassy in Baku, expressed his condolences over terrorist attack
13:22 27.03.2024
Hamısı