Download Blood Test May Detect Pancreatic Cancer in Early Stages

Blood Test May Detect Pancreatic Cancer in Early Stages
https://preview.archives.nbclearn.com/portal/site/k-12/browse/?cuecard=102752
General Information
Source:
Creator:
Event Date:
Air/Publish Date:
NBC Nightly News
Lester Holt/Anne
Thompson
06/24/2015
06/24/2015
Resource Type:
Copyright:
Copyright Date:
Clip Length
Video News Report
NBCUniversal Media,
LLC.
2015
00:01:34
Description
According to a 2015 study published in the journal "Nature," a blood test may be the answer to identifying
pancreatic cancer in its early stages, before it becomes deadly.
Keywords
Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer, Pancreas, Blood, Blood Test, Protein, Biomarker, Test, Screening, Study,
Research, Journal, Nature, Patrick Swayze, Luciano Pavarotti, Michael Landon, Derek Raghavan, Levine
Cancer Institute, Diagnose, Diagnosis, Early Detection, Detection, Cancer Cells, Kenneth Yu, Memorial
Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Health Research
Transcript
Blood Test May Detect Pancreatic Cancer in Early Stages
LESTER HOLT, anchor:
There is new hope tonight in the battle against one of the deadliest forms of cancer. Nearly 49,000 people
are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer every year in this country. Often by the time it's caught, it's too late
because there is really no way currently to detect it early, but today we got word of a new test that could
© 2008-2016 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Page 1 of 2
change that in the future. NBC's Anne Thompson has more on that.
ANNE THOMPSON, reporting:
Actor Patrick Swayze, Michael Landon, opera singer Luciano Pavarotti, these are some of the high-profile
faces of pancreatic cancer. Most patients die within the first year of diagnosis. Five-year survival is just
7%. Today, a study in the journal Nature says a blood test may be the answer to identifying this disease in
its early stages. The test looks for a single molecule--a protein produced by cancer cells that researchers
say is a potential biomarker for pancreatic cancer.
DR. DEREK RAGHAVAN (Levine Cancer Institute President): They found that normal people don't
have it. People with pancreas cancer do have it in high levels.
THOMPSON: The test could be used to screen people with high-risk factors, including a family history of
pancreatic cancer, smoking and pancreatitis; and symptoms such as stomach pain, jaundice, and loss of
appetite. Is this blood test ready for general use?
DR. KENNETH YU (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center): This blood test is not ready for general
use. It's a very promising biomarker that needs further study.
THOMPSON: There's enthusiasm tonight to do more studies on this test for a disease that kills 40,000
Americans a year. Anne Thompson, NBC News, New York.
© 2008-2016 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Page 2 of 2