First-ever breath test could ‘revolutionise’ care for pancreatic cancer patients
New pancreatic cancer breath test hailed as major breakthrough
- A new breath test for pancreatic cancer is undergoing a world-first large-scale trial across 40 sites in England, Wales and Scotland.
- The trial, involving 6,000 patients, aims to assess the effectiveness of the test in detecting the disease, which is often diagnosed at a late stage.
- Pancreatic Cancer UK, funding the study with £1.1 million, described the trial as the most significant step towards a lifesaving breakthrough in 50 years.
- Developed by scientists at Imperial College London, the test identifies specific volatile organic compounds in breath that indicate early-stage cancer.
- If successful, experts hope the test could be rolled out to GP surgeries within five years, enabling earlier diagnosis and more effective treatment for patients.