Strong public response from across Greece as the EU-funded project opens recruitment for people at high genetic risk of pancreatic cancer
Recruitment of participants for SHIELD, a European project on early detection of pancreatic cancer, has officially started at Attikon University General Hospital in Athens.
The project is progressing according to schedule. As SHIELD coordinator Izidor Mlakar explains, “Important milestones have already been achieved across the European consortium. Several clinical sites have already started recruiting participants, while others are in the final stages of preparation and are expected to begin recruitment shortly. We are particularly encouraged by the positive response from individuals interested in participating in the study, reflecting growing awareness of the importance of early detection and a willingness to contribute to this important research. The strong collaboration among our partners and the encouraging initial recruitment response give us confidence as we move forward with our shared goal of improving the early detection of pancreatic cancer through innovative screening technologies and personalized surveillance strategies.”
SHIELD (Comprehensive Surveillance of High-risk Individuals and Health Integration for Early detection of Pancreatic cancer utilising innovative multiplex immunoassays) focuses on people at high heritable genetic risk of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The 5-year survival rate for PDAC is below 10%, mainly because most cases are diagnosed too late for curative treatment. When the disease is detected early and treated surgically, survival can rise to 42%.
The project will validate a new blood-based test developed by project partner Reccan. The test uses a 5-plex multiplex immunoassay to analyse protein readouts and provides a probability score for pancreatic cancer. Earlier studies on more than 450 samples showed over 91% sensitivity and over 96% specificity.
For Reccan, the start of recruitment is a key step. Anna Broden, representing Reccan in the SHIELD Consortium, notes: “The start of recruitment in SHIELD marks an important milestone for Reccan and the clinical validation of our blood-based test for early detection of pancreatic cancer. Through this European collaboration, we have a unique opportunity to evaluate our technology in a prospective, multicentre setting and generate the clinical evidence needed to bring it closer to patients who could benefit from earlier detection.”
SHIELD will now assess the test’s clinical performance in a prospective multi-centre study across seven EU countries and will pilot an early detection programme in Greece, Slovenia and Lithuania. Recruitment will continue in the other participating countries: Sweden, Belgium, Denmark and Spain.
In Athens, the response has been immediate. Elina Koukouvaidou, a clinician at Attikon University General Hospital, adds: “We are delighted to announce that participant recruitment for the SHIELD project has officially started at Attikon University General Hospital in Athens. Our clinical team is very enthusiastic about this important milestone, and we are particularly encouraged by the strong public response. We have already received considerable interest from individuals across Greece, not only from Athens but also from other regions of the country. This widespread interest highlights the importance of the project and the growing public awareness of early detection and surveillance for pancreatic cancer.”
About SHIELD
SHIELD is a partnership of 26 leading research centers, clinical sites, patient groups, and industry partners in 13 European countries. With a shared vision to tackle pancreatic cancer, SHIELD develops and implements a non-invasive blood test for early detection in individuals at high genetic risk, ultimately improving patient outcomes and survival in Europe and worldwide. The SHIELD project received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement no. 101214779. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Health and Digital Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. This work has received funding from the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI).