Research funded by a Long Island organization has come up with a test that promises to detect pancreatic cancer in its early stages.

Researchers at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at John Hopkins say they have developed a single blood test that detects eight types of cancer, including pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer is considered one of the deadliest forms of the disease since it's often too late by the time it's detected.

"The major problem with pancreatic cancer is in 80 to 85 percent of patients, it's picked up too late" says Ann Marie Lennon, of the cancer center. "If we're able to pick it up early, then we can significantly improve the chances of curing patients."

The test, called CancerSEEK, uses a combination of selected biomarkers for early detection of cancers that currently have no screening test. Those cancers include ovarian, pancreatic, stomach, liver and esophagus.

The research was funded by the Lustgarten Foundation in Woodbury.

The researchers say the findings are an exciting first step. The hope is to eventually have a single blood test that can screen people for a range of common cancers.

Laura Polen, of Jericho, says she's alive because a blood test administered during treatment for lymphoma detected pancreatic cancer in its early stage. Polen says CancerSEEK will be a lifesaver for patients like her.

"I think everybody should be able to be given this test because early detection is the way to save lives," says Polen. 

The Lustgarten Foundation says another round of clinical trials will be conducted before it goes to the FDA for approval. The foundation expects it to be available to patients within the next two years.
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