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Cancer research

Multicenter NHS SAFE-D Study Aims to Advance Early Detection of Pancreatic Cancer in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A groundbreaking multicenter study, sponsored by University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, has been initiated to improve early detection of pancreatic cancer in individuals recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The Surveillance of pAncreatic health aFter diabEtes Diagnosis (SAFE-D) study aims to recruit up to 15,000 patient participants and provide prospective validation data for the Avantect test, a blood-based pancreatic cancer test developed by ClearNote Health. The study's community-focused approach aims to make early cancer detection research more inclusive and equitable.

Key Takeaways:

  • The SAFE-D study is a multicenter, single-blind, randomized controlled trial led by consultant pancreatic cancer surgeon Zaed Hamady, aiming to recruit up to 15,000 patient participants with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes.
  • The study seeks to improve early detection of pancreatic cancer in individuals with type 2 diabetes, who are up to eight times as likely to develop pancreatic cancer as the general population.
  • The Avantect test, developed by ClearNote Health, analyzes epigenomic biomarkers and other genomic data to detect pancreatic cancer at its earliest and most treatable stages.
  • The study will provide additional prospective validation data for the Avantect test and help identify early pancreatic cancer signals in the high-risk population.
  • ClearNote Health's Avantect test is designed to benefit thousands of people in the UK by identifying pancreatic cancer in stages I and II, when patients are most likely to benefit from treatment.

Statistics:

  • Up to 15,000 patient participants will be enrolled in the SAFE-D study.
  • Individuals with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes are up to eight times as likely to develop pancreatic cancer as the general population.
  • The Avantect test analyzes epigenomic biomarker 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) in cell-free DNA, combined with other genomic data, to detect pancreatic cancer.

Sources:

  • University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
  • ClearNote Health
  • Southampton Clinical Trials Unit
  • "Probability of pancreatic cancer following diabetes: a population-based study" - Chari ST, Leibson CL, Rabe KG, Ransom J, de Andrade M, Petersen GM. Gastroenterology. 2005 Aug;129(2):504-11. doi:10.1016/j.gastro.2005.05.007.

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