A Promising Breakthrough in Cancer Screening
Detecting pancreatic cancer early has long been a challenge, often leading to late-stage diagnoses and limited treatment options. Now, researchers at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) have developed a new blood test called PAC-MANN—short for protease activity-based assay using a magnetic nanosensor—which could revolutionize early detection and improve survival rates for one of the deadliest cancers.
How PAC-MANN Works
Unlike existing tests like carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9), which primarily indicate prognosis, PAC-MANN detects changes in protease activity—a key marker of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the most common and aggressive form of pancreatic cancer. By analyzing a small blood sample, this test identifies cancer-related activity earlier, filling a crucial gap in screening methods.
Advancing Early Detection
Jared Fischer, Ph.D., a scientist at OHSU’s Knight Cancer Institute’s Cancer Early Detection Advanced Research Center (CEDAR), emphasized the importance of early diagnosis.
“The problem with pancreatic cancer is that we often catch it too late,” Fischer said. “Our goal with PAC-MANN is to provide clinicians with a tool for early disease detection. Identifying it sooner allows for more treatment options and better survival chances.”
Fischer, an assistant professor of molecular and medical genetics at OHSU School of Medicine, co-authored the study detailing the test, published in Science Translational Medicine.
A Cost-Effective and Accessible Test
The study’s lead author, Jose L. Montoya Mira, Ph.D., a research engineer at CEDAR, contributed his expertise to make PAC-MANN both cost-effective and high-throughput. Unlike traditional tests that require specialized labs, healthcare providers can widely use this test—even in rural and underserved areas.
“Our test could be used for people at high risk of pancreatic cancer, which is not targeted by current tests,” Montoya said. “It provides a more robust and less invasive screening alternative. Unlike endoscopic ultrasounds or liquid biopsies that require large blood samples, this test offers a simpler solution.”
Quick, Accessible, and Accurate Screening
As reported by news.ohsu.edu, the research team tested 350 patient blood samples from OHSU’s Brenden-Colson Center for Pancreatic Care and CEDAR. The samples came from pancreatic cancer patients, high-risk individuals, and healthy controls. Scientists examined proteases, proteins that become more active in PDAC patients, to develop a test that could accurately detect pancreatic cancer.
Key Findings:
- PAC-MANN correctly identified pancreatic cancer 98% of the time.
- It detected early-stage cancer with 85% accuracy when combined with CA 19-9.
- It tracked treatment progress, showing decreased protease activity after surgery, indicating potential for real-time monitoring of therapy effectiveness.
“This test isn’t just about detection—it could also help us measure how well treatments are working and guide therapeutic options,” Fischer explained. “If we can track a patient’s response to therapy in real time, we can make better treatment decisions and improve outcomes.”
A Game-Changer for Global Healthcare
Unlike traditional screening methods, PAC-MANN requires only 8 microliters of blood and delivers results in just 45 minutes, all at a cost of less than a penny per sample.
“The big difference with this test is the cost,” Montoya said. “This could easily be used in rural and underserved settings, where traditional tests are not or cannot be used.”
Montoya and Fischer plan further trials, including an investigator-initiated trial at OHSU Knight Cancer Institute and CEDAR, focusing on high-risk individuals.
If validated in clinical trials, PAC-MANN could become a vital tool for early pancreatic cancer detection. This would give patients more treatment options and improve their chances of survival.
“Hopefully,” Fischer said, “this is one step toward ending cancer as we know it.”