by Pancreatic cancer is a very challenging disease to treat, and most people with pancreatic cancer die of it. The reason is that it’s hard to diagnose early, and when it’s diagnosed, the tumors are usually in an advanced stage. There is no screening test for people at average risk of pancreatic cancer. For those who have a family history or a genetic syndrome that raises their risk, doctors can perform tests to look for signs of the disease.
Imaging tests that create pictures of the inside of the body help doctors see organs, including the pancreas. These include ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT) scans, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Doctors may also order a blood test to check the liver function. This test measures the amount of bilirubin, a substance made by the liver, in the blood. People with pancreatic cancer often have high levels of this substance in their blood. Doctors can also check for a protein called carcinoembryonic antigen (CA 19-9). This protein is found in pancreatic cancer cells and may be found in the blood of people with this condition. A Latest Study by Coherent Market Insights Says, The global pancreatic cancer therapeutics and diagnostic market was valued at US$ 3,689.6 Mn in 2021 and is forecast to reach a value of US$ 6,039.3 Mn by 2028 at a CAGR of 7.4% between 2022 and 2028.
Once the doctor has a stage for pancreatic cancer, they can decide on the best treatment option. The main treatments for Pancreatic Cancer Therapeutics and diagnostics are surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. These treatments can be used alone or together to increase their effectiveness. A doctor might also recommend a targeted therapy drug. These drugs target specific proteins that are involved in the growth of pancreatic cancer cells. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors, such as erlotinib, are examples of this type of drug.
If pancreatic cancer hasn’t spread very far, a doctor might suggest palliative treatment to control pain and other symptoms. This might include pain medicine or radiation to the abdomen. A newer form of radiation, called proton beam therapy, can be used in certain situations instead of traditional X-rays. This type of treatment has fewer side effects than traditional radiation. There are also clinical trials that might give a chance to try new medications or combinations of existing ones. These might include immunotherapy treatments, chemotherapy drugs, or other medicines.
Apexigen Inc., gained the grant of orphan drug designation status by the US FDA in October 2020, for their APX005M. It is a humanized monoclonal antibody that stimulates the anti-tumor immune response for treating esophageal and gastroesophageal junction cancer.
