In a US study published in a recent issue of the American Journal of Gastroenterology, heavy smokers with pancreatic cancer were diagnosed around age 62 and heavy drinkers at age 61. That's almost a decade earlier than the average age of 72, according to the American Cancer Society.
Smoking is a strong risk factor for pancreatic cancer; alcohol has been shown to cause oxidative damage to the pancreas, and also to set the stage for the inflammatory pathways that can lead to cancer.
The findings only indicate these habits can lead to developing pancreatic cancer earlier in life, say the study authors, led by University of Michigan gastroenterologist and assistant professor of internal medicine, Dr Michelle Anderson.
The study of 811 pancreatic cancer patients from the multicentre, international database Pancreatic Cancer Collaborative Registry does not prove the habits caused cancer, she says. However, it does make a step towards understanding at what age screening for pancreatic cancer should begin - once widespread screening becomes available, Anderson says.
"As screening programmes are developed, an understanding of how personal features influence the age of presentation will be important to optimise the timing of those screenings," she says.
Detecting pancreatic cancer early is difficult and contributes to the poor survival rates. By the time pancreatic cancer is diagnosed, it is frequently at an advanced stage and has spread to other organs.
Currently there are no tests available to find pancreatic cancer easily in people who do not have symptoms.
In the study, heavy smokers were defined as those who had more than a pack per day; heavy drinking was measured at more than 39g a day, or about three average drinks per day.
Beer drinkers presented with pancreatic cancer earlier than those who drank other types of alcohol, such as wine or hard liquor although when adjusted for, the type of alcohol did not affect the age of presentation.
The good news is that the harmful effects of heavy drinking and smoking can be reversed. After 10 years, former smokers and drinkers who quit their habits faced no extra risk of earlier diagnosis, the study authors say.
In other research, US scientists say they have developed a simple blood test that can accurately detect the beginning stages of cancer. In less than an hour, the test can detect breast cancer and nonsmall cell lung cancer - the most common type of lung cancer - before symptoms such as coughing and weight loss start.
The researchers anticipate testing for the early stages of pancreatic cancer shortly.
The test was developed by Dr Stefan Bossmann, professor of chemistry, and Dr Deryl Troyer, professor of anatomy and physiology at Kansas State University's Johnson Cancer Research Centre and the University of Kansas Cancer Centre.
"We see this as the first step into a new arena of investigation that could eventually lead to improved early detection of human cancers," Troyer says.
"Right now the people who could benefit the most are those classified as at-risk for cancer, such as heavy smokers and people with a family history of cancer. The idea is these at-risk groups could go to their physician's office quarterly or once a year, take an easy-to-do, non-invasive test, and be told early whether cancer has possibly developed."
With the exception of breast cancer, the scientists say most types of cancer can be categorised in four stages, based on tumour growth and spread. Numerous studies show the earlier cancer is detected, the greater chance the person has against the disease.
Breast and lung cancer are typically found and diagnosed in stage two - when people often begin exhibiting symptoms such as pain, fatigue and coughing.
"The problem is nobody knows they're in stage one," Bossmann says. "There is often not a red flag to warn that something is wrong. Meanwhile, the person is losing critical time."
The test Bossmann and Troyer have developed, works by detecting increased enzyme activity in the body. Iron nanoparticles coated with amino acids and a dye are introduced to small amounts of blood or urine from a patient.
The amino acids and dye interact with enzymes in the patient's urine or blood sample. Each type of cancer produces a specific enzyme pattern, or signature, that can be identified by doctors.
"These enzyme patterns can also help distinguish between cancer and an infection or other diseases that commonly occur in the human body," Bossmann says.
"For example, a person who smokes a lot of cigars may develop an inflammation in their lungs. That will drive up some but not all of the markers in the test. Doctors will be able to see if there was too much smoke inhalation or something more serious going on. False-positives are something we really want to avoid."
Once the test is administered, comprehensive results are produced in roughly 60 minutes. Bossmann and Troyer have designed a second testing method that is anticipated to produce the same results in about five minutes.
Source: Business Day
For more than two decades, I-Net Bridge has been one of South Africa’s preferred electronic providers of innovative solutions, data of the highest calibre, reliable platforms and excellent supporting systems. Our products include workstations, web applications and data feeds packaged with in-depth news and powerful analytical tools empowering clients to make meaningful decisions.
We pride ourselves on our wide variety of in-house skills, encompassing multiple platforms and applications. These skills enable us to not only function as a first class facility, but also design, implement and support all our client needs at a level that confirms I-Net Bridge a leader in its field.
Go to: http://www.inet.co.za
