Research Involvement Network Opportunity: Developing a quick lateral flow test for early diagnosis
Provide feedback on a study looking to develop a quick lateral flow test for early diagnosis of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC)
Dr Pinar Uysal-Onganer is applying for a Pancreatic Cancer UK Early Detection Grant to fund her research. She is looking for feedback on her project which aims to develop a quick lateral flow test for early diagnosis of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC).
The project
Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains a common and deadly cancer. Despite numerous efforts, no reliable biomarker is available for daily clinical practice. PDAC does not exhibit early symptoms, but when symptoms occur they are often nonspecific. Investigation of potential biomarkers for screening, diagnosis, and treatment of pancreatic cancer has been an area of intense research. Various biological materials, such as blood (liquid biopsies), breath and pancreatic juice have been used for biomarker development.
At present serum cancer antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) is the only marker routinely used in pancreatic cancer. However, it has a low positive predictive value, therefore it cannot be employed for mass screening of asymptomatic subjects and is only useful to monitor response to treatment and as a marker of recurrent disease. Recently, small RNA molecules, microRNAs (miRs) were identified; we and the others found that miRs can be used as reliable markers for the early diagnosis of PDAC. Simple, rapid, and sensitive miR detection methods are urgently needed for better disease diagnosis of PDAC. The current study, therefore, aims to develop a non-invasive and specific test (“lateral flow test”), which is based on specific profiles of miR signatures from blood of patients, for early and better diagnosis of PDAC.
Next steps
No scientific background or prior experience is needed to take part in this opportunity.
If you would like to give your feedback on this project, please contact the Research Team (research@pancreaticcancer.org.uk) quoting the involvement reference ‘Lateral flow test study’. We will then email you the lay summary and any specific questions Dr Uysal-Onganer would like you to consider. Please return your responses to the research team by Thursday 18th May.