The Science Behind the PanTum Detect Cancer Test: Frequently Asked Questions
A simple blood test for the early detection of all types of cancer may seem too good to be true, so unsurprisingly, we receive many questions asking us about the way in which our test, PanTum Detect works. These questions come not just from people who are concerned about cancer and would like reassurance that they aren’t affected, but also from medical professionals who want to understand the more complex science behind this innovative blood test.
With this in mind, we are creating an FAQ page that is dedicated to answering all of your questions about PanTum Detect and this will soon be going live soon. In the meantime, here’s a sneak peek at some of the most frequently asked questions we receive from medical professionals, and those all-important answers.
What is Pantum Detect?
PanTum Detect is a CE certified IVD blood test that can detect any cancer at any stage, and which is based on the detection of epitopes in monocytes.
How does PanTum Detect work?
Activated monocytes (macrophages) phagocytose unwanted cells/cell fragments from the whole body, including solid tissues. As they return to the blood, macrophages can be used for a non-invasive detection of two biomarkers called Apo10 and TKTL1. This detection provides high sensitivity and specificity, because the intracellular presence of biomarkers is due to an innate immune response.
Can you define these biomarkers and is the test cancer specific?
PanTum detect is a pan-cancer test, able to detect all types of cancer but not the variety of cancer that is present. The biomarkers that are exploited and unique to PanTum are for two fundamental biophysical mechanisms. The DNaseX (Apo10) protein epitope is a characteristic of tumour cells with abnormal apoptosis and proliferation. Transketolase-like 1 (TKTL1) is a marker for an anaerobic glucose metabolism (Warburg effect), which is concomitant with invasive growth/metastasis and resistant to radical and apoptosis-inducing therapies.
What is the technology used for analysis?
Flow cytometry analysis of blood enables the detection of macrophages and phagocytosed intracellular biomarkers. There is an integrated gating and algorithmic analysis within the flow cytometer.
What happens if a patient tests positive?
If a patient tests positive, the next step is to speak to their GP and potentially an oncologist. PanTum Detect does not determine which type of cancer the patient has, and so the entire clinical picture needs to be taken into account. This means looking at any symptoms the patient may have and performing primary care tests to discover where the cancer is located, what stage it is at and what the next steps in the patient’s care should be.
What are the specificity and sensitivity results of PanTum Detect?
PanTum Detect is extremely accurate, identifying cancer with 99.05% specificity and 97.5% sensitivity, minimizing the risk of false positives and false negatives.
Are you a patient with questions about PanTum Detect? Keep an eye on our LinkedIn page and website for further FAQs and answers that will tell you everything that you need to know about our innovative early cancer detection screening solution.
PanTum Detect is the first line of defence against cancer, enabling it to be diagnosed at the earliest and most treatable stage. You can find out more about PanTum Detect by visiting our diagnostics page.
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