It is the third leading cause of cancer deaths and projected to become the second leading cause by end of this decade.
Pancreatic cancer accounts for just about 3% of all new cancer cases in the United States.
There is no standard test to detect early cases before they have spread.
Pancreatic cancer is a deadly disease that accounts for just about 3% of all new cancer cases in the United States, but it's the third leading cause of cancer deaths and is projected to become the second leading cause by the end of this decade. Currently, there is no standard test to detect early cases before they have spread and when surgery is more likely to be helpful. However, a blood-based liquid biopsy test has shown promise in recent studies for detecting pancreatic cancer at an early stage with up to 97% accuracy.
. A blood test appears capable of detecting early-stage pancreatic cancers with up to 97% accuracy.
. The test looks for eight small RNA particles and eight larger DNA markers shed by pancreatic cancers, which together create a genetic "signature" for the disease, researchers said.
When researchers combined the blood test with a test for an already-established pancreatic cancer marker called CA 19-9, the accuracy increased to 97% of stage 1 and 2 cancers among U.S. participants.
Accuracy
. The five-year survival rate for patients diagnosed with early-stage pancreatic cancer is 44%, but that drops to 3% if the cancer is caught after it has spread elsewhere in the body, researchers noted.
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that a blood test can detect early-stage pancreatic cancers with up to 97% accuracy. However, this statement is misleading because it implies that the blood test alone has such high accuracy when in fact it only detected 88% of pancreatic cancers among Chinese participants and 91% among South Koreans. Secondly, the author claims that a liquid biopsy test offers superior results to CA19-9 measurement alone for early-stage disease. However, this statement is also misleading because it implies that the blood test has been validated when in fact more research is needed before it can be deployed to the general population.
The article claims that a liquid biopsy test offers superior results to CA19-9 measurement alone for early-stage disease. However, this statement is also misleading because it implies that the blood test has been validated when in fact more research is needed before it can be deployed to the general population.
The article claims that a blood test can detect pancreatic cancer with up to 97% accuracy. However, this statement is misleading because it implies that the blood test alone has such high accuracy when in fact it only detected 88% of pancreatic cancers among Chinese participants and 91% among South Koreans.
Fallacies
(85%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Bias
(85%)
The article is biased towards the new blood test for detecting pancreatic cancer. The author uses language that portrays the old method of detection as inadequate and highlights the success rate of this new test. Additionally, there are no quotes from experts or patients who have used this new method to provide a balanced perspective.
The organ is located deep in the abdomen, and the cancer has symptoms that can be mistakenly attributed to other diseases.
There is no standard test to detect early cases of pancreatic cancer
Finding pancreatic cancer early could help increase a patient's chances of survival
Pancreatic accounts for just about 3% of all new cancer cases in the United States, but it's the third leading cause of cancer deaths and is projected to become the second leading cause by the end of this decade
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(85%)
The article by Jacqueline Howard does not contain any formal fallacies. However, there are instances of informal fallacies present in the form of dichotomous depictions and appeals to authority.
Across the United States, research teams are investigating ways to spot early cases, with many turning to blood-based liquid biopsy tests. But mammograms and colonoscopies are not mentioned as options for pancreatic cancer detection.
Bias
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (0%)
There are multiple examples of conflicts of interest in this article. The author is affiliated with the City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, both organizations that may have a vested interest in promoting early detection methods for pancreatic cancer.
The article mentions the City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center as one of the institutions involved in developing liquid biopsy tests. This suggests that there is a financial or professional relationship between Dr. Brian Wolpin, who leads research at this center, and the author.
. A blood test appears capable of detecting early-stage pancreatic cancers with up to 97% accuracy.
. The five-year survival rate for patients diagnosed with early-stage pancreatic cancer is 44%, but that drops to 3% if the cancer is caught after it has spread elsewhere in the body, researchers noted.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(80%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that most pancreatic cancer patients are diagnosed when it's too late to do surgery. However, this statement is not supported by any data or statistics provided in the article. Secondly, the author quotes Ajay Goel stating that for most patients with pancreatic cancer, they cannot resect the tumor and have a high degree of mortality. This quote is also unsupported by any data or statistics provided in the article. Thirdly, while it's true that early detection can improve treatment outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients, there are no studies cited to support Goel's claim that his new blood test could detect pancreatic cancer at stage 1 or 2 with a sensitivity of over 90%. Lastly, the article does not disclose any sources used in its reporting.
The statement 'For the vast majority of pancreatic cancer cases, the tumor grows undetected until it has already spread locally or to distant parts of the body.' is deceptive because there are no data or statistics provided to support this claim.
The quote by Ajay Goel stating that for most patients with pancreatic cancer, they cannot resect the tumor and have a high degree of mortality is unsupported by any data or statistics provided in the article.
While it's true that early detection can improve treatment outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients, there are no studies cited to support Goel's claim that his new blood test could detect pancreatic cancer at stage 1 or 2 with a sensitivity of over 90%.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy when it quotes Ajay Goel stating that the key to saving more lives from pancreatic cancer will not just be from improving treatment but by discovering a better way to discover the cancer earlier. The author does not provide any evidence or counterarguments for this statement, making it seem like an absolute truth.
For the majority of patients, we cannot resect the tumor. That's why we have such a high degree of mortality,
Bias
(80%)
The author has a clear bias towards the importance of discovering pancreatic cancer earlier. The language used in describing the current situation and potential solution is strongly suggestive of an emotional investment in finding a better way to detect pancreatic cancer early.
> 80% by some estimates
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The key to saving more lives from pancreatic cancer will not just be from improving treatment but by discovering a better way to discover the cancer earlier, Goel said, and he’s getting closer to developing a new blood test that might do just that.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Angus Chen has a conflict of interest on the topic of liquid biopsy for pancreatic cancer as he is an employee and shareholder at City of Hope. He also has a financial stake in Ajay Goel who was involved in developing the RNA discharge test mentioned in the article.
Angus Chen is an employee and shareholder at City of Hope, which developed a liquid biopsy for pancreatic cancer.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Angus Chen has a conflict of interest on the topic of liquid biopsy for pancreatic cancer as he is affiliated with City of Hope. He also has financial ties to Ajay Goel who was involved in developing the RNA discharge test mentioned in the article.
Angus Chen mentions City of Hope again when discussing the potential impact of liquid biopsy on early detection and treatment options for pancreatic cancer.
Angus Chen mentions his association with City of Hope, a research center that specializes in pancreatic cancer treatment and is likely to benefit from increased awareness of liquid biopsy as a screening tool. He also notes Ajay Goel's involvement in the development of an RNA discharge test for pancreatic cancer.
There is no standard test to detect early cases of pancreatic cancer
Finding pancreatic cancer early could help increase a patient's chances of survival
Pancreatic accounts for just about 3% of all new cancer cases in the United States, but it's the third leading cause of cancer deaths and is projected to become the second leading cause by the end of this decade
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Bias
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (0%)
There are multiple examples of conflicts of interest in this article. The author is affiliated with the City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, both organizations that may have a financial stake in liquid biopsy tests for pancreatic cancer detection.
The article mentions that Dr. Brian Wolpin, who is quoted extensively throughout the piece, works at City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (0%)
The author has multiple conflicts of interest on the topics provided. The article was published by CNN and mentions Dr. Brian Wolpin who is a researcher at City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute which are both involved in pancreatic cancer research.
Dr. Brian Wolpin is mentioned as being involved in the study that was discussed in the article.
The author mentions the involvement of City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Ajay Goel who is a researcher at these institutions. These institutions have financial interests in pancreatic cancer research which could influence their coverage.
