Blood Test Detects Early Pancreatic Cancer in High-Risk Patients

Earlier identification of pancreatic cancer in individuals at elevated risk remains an urgent unmet need in oncology, with strong interest in noninvasive strategies. Blood-based assays that integrate multiple cancer-associated signals can provide context for care discussions. A specialized liquid biopsy test now reports 82.6% sensitivity and 97.5% specificity for high‑risk patients, enabling earlier detection from a simple blood draw.

ClearNote Health’s Avantect Pancreatic Cancer Test is a blood-based assay intended for patients with known genetic predispositions or a family history of pancreatic cancer, and for adults age 50 or older who have been newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The enhanced version is being showcased at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2026 in San Diego (April 17–22). The company reports an industry-leading early detection performance with sensitivity of 82.6% and specificity of 97.5% in patients at elevated risk.

Image: The assay evaluates multiple cancer‑associated signals together to support risk assessment for early detection (photo credit: Adobe Stock)

The assay evaluates multiple cancer‑associated signals together to support risk assessment conversations. It is built on the Virtuoso epigenomics platform, which measures active biological cancer signals by profiling the epigenomic biomarker 5‑hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) in cell‑free DNA. Advanced artificial intelligence algorithms integrate 5hmC profiles with other genomic information to generate actionable insights, all from a simple blood draw.

At the meeting, the test and platform will be featured in an oral presentation titled “Enhanced Early Detection of Pancreatic Cancer Using a Multi‑Analyte Liquid Biopsy Approach” and in a scientific poster on epigenomic liquid biopsy‑based biomarkers of response to platinum and PARP inhibitor therapy in germline BRCA‑associated pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The poster highlights the potential of cell‑free DNA‑based epigenomic profiling to differentiate treatment response. These data are described as supporting future development of blood‑based biomarkers for predicting treatment response and resistance monitoring.

The next‑generation test has been selected for the Surveillance of pAncreatic health aFter diabEtes Diagnosis (SAFE‑D) study led by the United Kingdom’s National Health Service, one of the largest projects evaluating pancreatic cancer detection in individuals with new‑onset diabetes. It is also being incorporated into the international Pancreatic Cancer Early Detection (PRECEDE) Consortium for earlier diagnosis and risk‑stratified screening in familial or genetic risk cohorts. Testing is performed in ClearNote Health’s CLIA‑certified, College of American Pathologists (CAP)‑accredited, and New York State Department of Health‑approved laboratory in San Diego.

“ClearNote Health is eager to share with the cancer research community the significant advances we’ve made with our 5hmC technology for early cancer detection and drug development,” said Jeffrey Venstrom, MD, Chief Medical Officer, ClearNote Health. “Our Virtuoso platform empowers researchers to measure active disease biology, generating dynamic, actionable insights into therapeutic response and resistance in the future. With our Avantect Pancreatic Cancer Test, we are addressing one of oncology's most urgent unmet needs with a blood-based test that delivers the sensitivity, specificity, and reliability required to detect pancreatic cancer at its earliest stages.”

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