Toronto, Canada – Geneseeq and its clinical collaborators have published a landmark study in Cancer Discovery showing that a simple cell-free DNA (cfDNA) blood test can detect pancreatic cancer at its early stages – often months before it becomes visible on imaging scans.
Key Findings
In a real-world cohort of nearly 2,000 people at elevated risk for pancreatic cancer (for example, due to diabetes or obesity) and followed for up to two years, Geneseeq’s cfDNA blood test:
- Detected cancer early: Identified 75% (6 of 8) pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cases present at enrollment, including every Stage 0 cases and additional Stage I/II cases.
- Provided a lead time advantage: Signaled cancer up to 10 months earlier (median 7.5 months) than imaging could detect it.
- Showed high accuracy: Achieved 97.9% specificity and a 99.9% negative predictive value, indicating very few false positives.
- Aided cyst risk stratification: Correctly flagged a high-risk precancerous lesion (IPMN) while ruling out a low-risk cyst (SCN).
- Outperformed the standard biomarker: The commonly used blood biomarker, CA19-9, detected only 12.5% (1/8) PDAC cases at enrollment and generated far more false positives.
Why This Matters
Pancreatic cancer is among the deadliest cancers, largely because it is often diagnosed too late for effective treatment. Detecting it earlier can make a life-saving difference.
“Our prospective validation in a real-world elevated-risk population shows how cfDNA blood testing could transform pancreatic cancer screening,” said Dr. Hua Bao, Geneseeq’s VP of R&D. “By identifying disease months before imaging, we could shift diagnoses to much earlier, more treatable stages.”
Earlier this year, Geneseeq also contributed to another cfDNA-based pancreatic cancer early detection study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Geneseeq Technology Inc. is a research-driven global leader in precision oncology, pioneering next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies to transform cancer detection, diagnosis, and treatment. Its portfolio spans comprehensive genomic profiling across tumor types, cancer-specific diagnostic panels, minimal residual disease (MRD) monitoring, and multi-cancer early detection (MCED) solutions.
The company’s flagship GeneseeqPrime® tumor profiling assay is now FDA-cleared, CE-IVD marked, and NMPA-approved, ensuring accessibility across major jurisdictions. In addition, four other Geneseeq panels have received CE-IVD marking, and its MCED assay CanScan® has been granted FDA Breakthrough Device Designation.
Headquartered in Canada and China, Geneseeq operates CAP- and CLIA-certified laboratories and partners with hospitals, academic institutions, and pharmaceutical companies worldwide to advance precision medicine and accelerate biomarker-driven therapeutic development.
