New Breath Test Offers Hope for Early Detection of Pancreatic Cancer

New Breath Test Offers Hope for Early Detection of Pancreatic Cancer
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A pioneering breath test for pancreatic cancer could transform the way the disease is diagnosed and treated, according to scientists at Imperial College London, as reported by The Telegraph. The world’s first test of its kind aims to identify pancreatic cancer at an early stage—something that has long challenged doctors due to the illness’s vague symptoms such as back pain and indigestion.

Pancreatic Cancer UK, which is funding the £1.1 million study, described the development as the most significant step toward a life-saving breakthrough in five decades. Currently, most patients are diagnosed late, with 62% in England and 65% in Wales identified at stage four, when survival rates are extremely poor.

The new test works by detecting combinations of volatile organic compounds in a patient’s breath. These compounds, filtered from the blood through the lungs, can reveal chemical patterns linked to pancreatic cancer—even in its earliest stages. Results could be available to general practitioners within three days.

Following a promising pilot study involving 700 participants, the large-scale clinical trial will now test 6,000 patients with undiagnosed symptoms across 40 sites in the UK. If proven effective, the test could be introduced in GP surgeries within five years, allowing for faster referrals and potentially life-saving early treatment.

Researchers say the technology could redefine cancer screening. Professor George Hanna, who leads the project, said the next validation phase marks an “exciting step” toward integrating the test into everyday medical practice.