A molecular test designed by researchers at Pittsburgh-based UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine detected nearly twice as many bile duct cancers as standard pathology, according to a study published March 27 in Gastroenterology.
The test, called BiliSeq, was developed to identify genetic mutations associated with cancer in bile duct tissue as “bile duct tumors are often small, difficult to reach and surrounded by inflammation or scar tissue,” UPMC said in a March 27 news release.
Here are three things to know from the study:
- Researchers evaluated BiliSeq against 3,000 bile duct specimens from 2,000 patients across the U.S.
- BiliSeq detected about 83% of bile duct cancers while pathology alone detected only 44%.
When BiliSeq and standard pathology were combined, cancer detection increased to nearly 90%. - BiliSeq is intended only for patients with bile duct narrowing or obstruction, the release said.
Read the full study here.
At the Becker's Perioperative Summit, taking place September 14–15 in Chicago, perioperative leaders and healthcare executives will focus on improving operating room efficiency, enhancing patient safety, optimizing staffing and driving innovation across surgical services. Apply for complimentary registration now.
