Pancreatic Cancer Vaccine Shows Potential in Early Trial
The American Cancer Society estimates that about 67,440 Americans (34,950 men and 32,490 women) will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year. Of those, about 51,980 people (27,050 men and 24,930 women) will die of pancreatic cancer. The lifetime risk of pancreatic cancer is about 1 in 56 in men and about 1 in 60 in women.
Pancreatic cancer is one of the more deadly forms of this malady because around 80 percent of patients will be diagnosed at Stage IV, which is after the cancer has metastasized throughout the body. Stage IV pancreatic cancer has a five-year survival rate of 1 percent. Overall, the five-year survival rate of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer is 13 percent. If the disease is caught very early, up to 10 percent of patients become disease-free.
Compare those grim statistics with the overall five-year survival rates for breast and prostate cancers (91 percent and 97 percent, respectively).
Two breakthroughs are bringing hope for successfully treating this malignancy. First, researchers at the Oregon Health & Science University reported earlier this month in Science Translational Medicine that they had developed a simple blood test that can detect the activity of proteins associated with early-stage pancreatic cancer. Nature notes that the test “correctly identified healthy individuals 98% of the time, and identified people with pancreatic cancer with 73% accuracy. It always distinguished between individuals with cancer and those with other pancreatic diseases.” Combining the new test with another standard test improves diagnostic accuracy to 85 percent. The researchers calculate that the test would take
Article from Reason.com
The Reason Magazine website is a go-to destination for libertarians seeking cogent analysis, investigative reporting, and thought-provoking commentary. Championing the principles of individual freedom, limited government, and free markets, the site offers a diverse range of articles, videos, and podcasts that challenge conventional wisdom and advocate for libertarian solutions. Whether you’re interested in politics, culture, or technology, Reason provides a unique lens that prioritizes liberty and rational discourse. It’s an essential resource for those who value critical thinking and nuanced debate in the pursuit of a freer society.
