This exciting step forward follows a two-year clinical trial, in which researchers at Imperial College London analyzed over 700 breath samples from people with and without pancreatic cancer, as well as from people with other conditions affecting the pancreas.
Scientists have developed a highly promising breath test that can detect pancreatic cancer at an early stage – a potentially groundbreaking innovation in cancer diagnosis. The test, which acts as an “alcometer”, analyzes volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled air.
These substances are formed in the blood and transported to the lungs, where they can reveal unique chemical patterns typical of cancer. Pancreatic cancer is the deadliest of the common cancers; more than half of patients die within three months of diagnosis.
Most are detected too late
As the disease often presents with diffuse symptoms, such as back pain and indigestion, 80% of cases are only detected when the cancer has already spread. Today, there is no established screening test, which makes the new method particularly important.
The project, led by researchers at Imperial College London under Professor George Hanna and supported by Pancreatic Cancer UK, is investing over £1.1 million to fund a large validation study – the final step before the test can be approved for clinical use in the NHS. Around 40 hospitals in England, Scotland and Wales are taking part, with patients recruited through the national suspected cancer fast track.
The test only takes around 30 seconds and can be used directly in health centers. The results can be ready within three days, making it possible to quickly refer at-risk patients for further investigation with ultrasound, CT or MRI. The technology is also non-invasive and cost-effective, making it well suited to healthcare needs.
Diana Jupp, CEO of Pancreatic Cancer UK, describes the test as the biggest advance in 50 years in the fight against the disease. She emphasizes that it offers real hope for patients and could save thousands of lives every year. The research team also plans to develop a broader ‘pan-cancer’ test that can identify several different gastrointestinal cancers, including liver, stomach and colon cancer.
If the ongoing validation study confirms the initial results, the test could become a key tool in future cancer diagnostics – and a major step towards earlier detection and improved survival chances.
