Immunovia AB, Lund, Sweden, has announced that Clínica Universidad de Navarra will participate in PanFAM-1, the largest-ever prospective study looking at early diagnosis of familial pancreatic cancer (FPC) among high-risk individuals.
Designed to validate Immunovia’s blood-based test, IMMray PanCan-d, the study will analyze more than 1,000 individuals over 3 years, sites in the United States and Europe already offering FPC screening programs. The aim is to prove the overall healthcare benefits of testing hereditary pancreatic cancer patients.
Immunovia is also performing studies for other newly identified high-risk groups, such as patients with early onset diabetes over age 50, and patients presenting with early symptoms suggestive of pancreatic cancer. Recruitment to the global network of cancer centers is planned to end this year.
“An estimated 5% to 10% of pancreatic cancers diagnosed have a familial background, but symptoms are initially vague—such as back pain and weight loss—and could be attributed to other disorders,” says Maite Herraiz, MD, the researcher in charge of the study at Clínica Universidad de Navarra.
“Till now, we have lacked accurate noninvasive early diagnostic tools, and a blood test such as IMMray PanCan-d could make a huge difference, especially since surgical intervention at the early stages does improve survival rates significantly,” adds Mariano Ponz-Sarvisé, MD, PhD, specialist in medical oncology at the Clínica Universidad de Navarra. “We have started a screening program with individuals that qualify for inclusion in this study and we are therefore very interested to join the PanFAM-1 study along with other colleagues around the world.”
For more information, visit Immunovia and Clínica Universidad de Navarra.
