Major Progress in Developing Simple Blood Test for Earlier Bile Duct Cancer Detection in PSC
Major Progress in Developing Simple Blood Test for Earlier Bile Duct Cancer Detection in PSC
Professor Jesús Bañales and Dr Pedro Rodrigues
We are delighted to share an exciting update on our international research project, which aims to create a simple, non-invasive blood test to help predict and detect cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer, or CCA for short) risk in people with PSC earlier.
In the first half of this global collaboration, led by Dr Pedro Rodrigues and Professor Jesús Bañales, significant progress has been made. The team collected blood samples from over 800 PSC patients from collaborating hospitals and research centres across the world. They measured levels of promising blood proteins (biomarkers) that showed potential in their earlier work. Encouragingly, these biomarkers continue to differentiate between individuals at higher risk and those with early-stage cancer, even within this larger and more diverse cohort. Comparison groups, including those with benign biliary conditions, were also included to enhance the test's accuracy.
This work directly addresses the urgent need for better surveillance tools, a priority we have emphasised along with the rest of the global PSC community. There is immense value in early diagnosis because that is when treatment is most likely to be effective.
The second phase will focus on completing detailed statistical analyses, developing a user-friendly online tool for clinicians, and preparing the findings for publication.
Our long-term goal is to translate these incredible discoveries into a practical, cost-effective blood test that can be used globally, empowering PSC patients and their physicians with better tools to monitor cancer risk and detect CCA when it is most treatable.
Turning Ambition into Action in 2026:
Our Fortnight in Focus
At PSC Support, we want a world without PSC. We work tirelessly behind the scenes to drive research and improve lives. Here is a snapshot of what we've been up to:
Building Partnerships: We led an international discussion on removing barriers that delay research, ensuring that drug development is built around the practical realities of living with PSC.
Building Partnerships: We joined an AMMF webinar to share specialist transplant knowledge with healthcare professionals to help ensure that clinicians are aware of evolving care options and can better support patients facing transplant and CCA.
Building Partnerships: We presented the latest the PSC Working Group's achievements at the European Reference Network meeting of liver experts to drive collaboration and improve clinical standards worldwide.
Empowering our Community: We signed an international declaration advocating for rare disease research to be a priority in health policy, ensuring long-term funding for PSC.
Improving Care: We initiated collaborations with clinical experts to streamline specialist referral pathways, ensuring patients get the right care at the right time.
Organisational Excellence: We refined our strategic objectives to ensure every penny donated is focused on the most impactful work for our community.
Organisational Excellence: We met with our Board of Trustees to report on work so far this year to ensure the charity continues to meet the highest standards of governance and ensure we are delivering the maximum benefit for people with PSC.
Progressing Research: There are now 55 volunteers in our Patient Panel! The ensures that a diverse range of lived experiences directly shapes future PSC research and care.
Progressing Research: We reviewed research summaries for a pharmaceutical partner to ensure that study results are communicated clearly and transparently to our community.
Progressing Research: We provided patient leadership on a major new steering committee to ensure research into liver complications remains grounded in patient needs.
Progressing Research: The UK PSC Care Guidelines are going to be updated! We joined the national steering committee to update them, ensuring the "rulebook" for how doctors treat PSC is co-written by the patients who live with it.