A new diagnostic technique that makes it possible to differentiate between two diseases that are difficult to distinguish, pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis, was presented at Digestive Disease Week 2013, in the United States.
According to the study by researchers at the Mayo Clinic, it is a molecular marker isolated from pancreatic secretons, which would allow the identification of this type of cancer, whose symptoms (inflammation of the pancreas) resemble those of chronic pancreatitis.
The study’s author, gastroenterologist Massimo Raimondo, says more research needs to be done: “We all want a foolproof method to detect pancreatic cancer in our patients and to be able to prescribe the appropriate treatment to them. as quickly as possible. While we know more research is needed to validate our findings, we can’t help but be excited about this breakthrough. “
Concretely, the molecular marker is detected during the analysis of the secretions of the pancreas. To achieve this, the patient must go through a digestive endoscopy, a routine examination that allows visualization of the esophagus, the interior of the stomach and the beginning of the intestine in order to visualize possible lesions or to perform samples by injecting a hormone that stimulates the secretion of fluid from the pancreas. It is this liquid that is analyzed by the doctor.
The research team is working to improve this promising molecular diagnostic approach. This type of test could also be used to monitor people at high risk of pancreatic cancer.
