An international study found PANXEON, a blood test combining three markers, correctly identified 87% of patients with stage 1 or 2 pancreatic cancer among nearly 1,800 people. False-positive rates were 3% in low-risk and 16% in high-risk groups.
PANXEON measures circulating microRNAs, exosomal microRNAs and CA19-9, then uses AI to combine them into a score estimating the likelihood of cancer. It also detected high-grade dysplasia, an advanced precancerous lesion, in about 64% of cases.
Study lead Ajay Goel said the test is not expected to replace scans and may instead help triage people already known to be at increased risk. He said the findings do not justify population-wide screening or changes to current surveillance; prospective, longitudinal testing in high-risk people is needed. Study modeling suggested earlier diagnosis could improve projected survival, but did not show that PANXEON improves survival.
