Volatile Organic Compound Assessment in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (VAPOR2)

Summary

The investigators are developing a non-invasive breath test to help us detect pancreatic cancer earlier. The test detects small molecules called volatile organic compounds that are made by pancreatic cancers.

Pancreatic cancer is a rare disease but patients are often diagnosed at a late stage because their symptoms are the same as those of many common illnesses. This makes it hard for doctors to know which patients need to be tested for pancreatic cancer. If the investigators find pancreatic cancer at a late stage, it reduces the number of treatment choices for patients.

Our test could be offered to patients who are experiencing vague symptoms, which might be caused either by pancreatic cancer or a common illness. This test could help doctors to identify which of those patients may have pancreatic cancer, and ensure they get referred for specialised pancreatic cancer tests. The investigators hope that this will allow us to diagnose pancreatic cancer earlier, increasing treatment choices for patients and improving survival from pancreatic cancer.

The investigators have previously conducted a study (VAPOR1) which collected breath samples from people with and without pancreatic cancer. When the investigators analysed these samples, they found that there is a difference in the volatile organic compounds breathed out by people who have pancreatic cancer compared to those that do not. The investigators used these 'markers' to develop a breath test to diagnose pancreatic cancer. In VAPOR2, the investigators will study our breath test in a much larger group of patients who have been referred for further investigations for potential underlying pancreatic cancer to see how accurately it can pick up the small percentage of people who have pancreatic cancer.

Conditions

• Pancreatic Cancer
• PDAC - Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Interventions

DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Breath test

All participants will fast for a minimum of six hours prior to breath collection. For participants undergoing a procedure, breath samples must be obtained prior to administration of sedation, anaesthetic or other pharmacological agents. After providing written informed consent, participants will be asked to rinse their mouth with water and then provide a breath sample by exhaling into single-use breath collection bags via a mouthpiece that is subsequently sealed.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Pancreatic Cancer UK

  collaborator OTHER

• Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

  collaborator OTHER

• Royal Free Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

  collaborator OTHER

• Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• Newcastle-upon-Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust

  collaborator OTHER

• University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

  collaborator OTHER

• Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

  collaborator OTHER

• Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

  collaborator OTHER

• The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

  collaborator OTHER

• Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

  collaborator OTHER

• Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

  collaborator OTHER

• County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust

  collaborator OTHER

• University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

  collaborator OTHER

• Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust

  collaborator OTHER

• NHS Fife

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

  collaborator OTHER

• Aneurin Bevan University Health Board

  collaborator OTHER

• Imperial College London

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Professor George B Hanna, PhD, FRCS · Imperial College London

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-10-21

Primary Completion

2028-08-01

Completion

2028-08-01

Countries

• United Kingdom

Study Locations