A study from the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center suggests that regular imaging tests for people at high risk of developing pancreatic cancer may help detect the disease at an earlier, more treatable stage compared to the general population.
The study involved around 1,700 high-risk individuals who underwent annual imaging, such as MRI scans and endoscopic ultrasounds, to monitor for signs of pancreatic cancer. These participants either had a family history of the disease or genetic changes associated with increased risk.
Over two decades, 26 participants were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer through this surveillance program. The findings revealed that these participants had a higher incidence of early-stage cancer at diagnosis compared to a similar group from the general population, resulting in a significantly higher 5-year survival rate (50% versus 9%).
The study highlights the potential benefits of targeted surveillance for early detection, particularly in improving long-term survival rates for high-risk individuals. However, it also notes the challenges and risks associated with annual screening, such as false positives, missed early-stage cancers, and the potential psychological impact of ongoing surveillance. The research emphasizes the need for better risk estimation tools to identify who would benefit most from such surveillance programs.
The findings were published in JAMA Oncology and underscore the importance of multidisciplinary teams in managing pancreatic cancer surveillance. While the study demonstrates that early detection can improve outcomes, it also calls for more effective treatments to address the high recurrence rates of pancreatic cancer.