MONTREAL - Less than 5% of patients with pancreatic cancer is diagnosed are alive five years after this diagnosis and the survival rate has not budged in 40 years.
According to Bert Vogelstein, co-author of a joint study by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Johns Hopkins, two competing theories to explain why this cancer is so deadly.
"The first theory says that pancreatic tumors are very aggressive early in their formation and spread quickly to other organs. Another theory says the contrary that these tumors are more aggressive than others, but the symptoms appear too late for that cancer can be treated in time. "
"We were pleasantly surprised to discover that the second of these theories is correct, at least for most of the tumors. This means that it is possible to detect at an early stage, "said Bert Vogelstein.
In reaching this conclusion, the researchers examined tissue from seven people died from pancreatic cancer. They then searched for samples of early tumors and metastatic tumors. It is the latter that spread to other organs.
With the help of Martin Nowak, a Harvard biologist, they then observed how the tumor is born and grows. They found a tumor early is 11.7 years to form in the pancreas. She then 6.8 years to become metastatic tumor.
However, pancreatic cancer is rarely diagnosed before the metastatic stage because there are usually no symptoms before. At this stage, the chances of survival are slim: most patients die within three years after diagnosis.
Researchers believe, however, it is possible to detect genetic mutations in the pancreas before the onset of metastatic tumors through blood tests.
"This discovery is of paramount importance. This gives us the hope of one day increase the survival rate of people with pancreatic cancer through early detection, "said Bert Vogelstein.