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Researchers at Japan’s Kanazawa University have developed a blood test capable of detecting 90% of the earliest-stage pancreatic cancers, a finding that could significantly improve survival odds for a disease long considered one of the most difficult cancers to catch in time for effective treatment.

Pancreatic cancer remains notoriously hard to diagnose early, with symptoms typically emerging only after the disease has already advanced. In Japan, the five-year survival rate for the disease stood at just 8.5% between 2009 and 2011, according to data from the National Cancer Center. Surgery following an early diagnosis remains the only treatment offering a realistic chance at a cure, but early-stage cases currently account for only 2% to 3% of all pancreatic cancer diagnoses, meaning most patients are identified only after the disease has already reached an advanced, harder-to-treat stage.

To address that gap, a research team led by Dr. Taro Yamashita, dean of the Graduate School of Advanced Preventive Medical Sciences and a professor of gastroenterology at Kanazawa University’s Faculty of Medicine, previously developed a diagnostic test called Panregza, which combines analysis of gene expression patterns drawn from peripheral whole blood with measurement of the tumor marker CA19-9, a protein commonly used in existing pancreatic cancer screening. While Panregza had already demonstrated effectiveness in diagnosing advanced pancreatic cancer, researchers had not previously determined how well it could detect the disease at its very earliest stages, when treatment odds are dramatically better.

The new study analyzed 10 patients diagnosed with stage 0 or stage I pancreatic cancer, representing just 4% of a total pool of 253 patients, and compared their results against those of 104 healthy individuals. Researchers evaluated three separate diagnostic approaches: gene expression patterns from peripheral whole blood alone, the standard CA19-9 tumor marker test alone, and the combined Panregza test incorporating both measures.

Using a panel of 56 gene probes, the whole blood gene expression approach on its own detected nine of the 10 early-stage cancer cases, translating to a 90% detection rate. The standard CA19-9 test, by comparison, detected only one of the 10 cases, a 10% detection rate, highlighting a substantial gap in performance between the two methods when it comes to catching the disease at its earliest, most treatable point. The combined Panregza test, which blends both measures, landed between the two individual approaches, demonstrating 60% sensitivity alongside 93.3% specificity, meaning it was highly effective at correctly ruling out cancer in people who did not have the disease, even if its overall detection rate for early cases fell short of the gene-expression test used on its own.

“These findings indicate that gene expression analysis from peripheral whole blood is a highly effective method for detecting early-stage pancreatic cancer,” Yamashita said in a statement accompanying the research.

The stakes tied to catching the disease earlier are substantial. According to data from the Innovative Research and Development Center for Pancreatic Cancer at Kanazawa University Hospital, five-year survival rates reach 100% among patients diagnosed at stage 0 and 74.4% among those diagnosed at stage I, a dramatic improvement over the single-digit survival rates typically associated with pancreatic cancer diagnosed at more advanced stages. Researchers said that gap underscores the critical importance of developing tools capable of identifying the disease before symptoms emerge.

Explaining the biological basis behind the test, researchers noted that most of the cells analyzed in the blood samples are immune cells rather than cancer cells themselves, and that the presence of even a very small tumor appears to alter the gene activity of those immune cells, even during the disease’s earliest stages. That mechanism suggests the test can detect genetic changes associated with pancreatic cancer in the bloodstream even before a tumor grows large enough to be found through conventional imaging, and even before CA19-9 levels themselves begin to rise, a scenario in which standard blood-marker testing would typically still appear normal.

Outside experts reviewing the findings offered cautious optimism about the test’s potential impact. Dr. Ligresti, whose full name and institutional affiliation were not specified in initial coverage of the study, described the results as “a potential game-changer” in comments reported by Newsweek, while also cautioning that the trial involved a very small number of early-stage cases. “Although that’s a small trial, it fits in with the current research and thinking for sure,” Ligresti said, adding that the approach “requires further validation in larger, diverse populations” before it could be adopted more broadly in clinical practice. Ligresti also pointed to the test’s potential value for screening patients already considered at elevated risk for pancreatic cancer, saying a highly sensitive blood test of this kind “could revolutionize these efforts, allowing us to identify patients who are candidates for curative surgery before symptoms ever arise.”

The Panregza diagnostic kit is currently marketed commercially in Japan by Cubix Inc., building on research the Kanazawa University team has pursued for several years. An earlier version of the underlying blood messenger RNA screening system, developed by many of the same Kanazawa University researchers, was first published in the journal Cancer Science in 2019, establishing the foundational gene-panel approach that has since been refined and tested specifically for its ability to detect the disease at its earliest, most treatable stages.

Researchers cautioned that despite the promising early results, the current findings stem from a relatively small sample of just 10 early-stage patients, meaning larger, more diverse studies will be needed before the gene-expression approach could realistically be adopted as a widespread screening tool for the general population or even for high-risk groups specifically. Even so, the research adds to a growing body of scientific work focused on developing blood-based screening tools capable of catching notoriously hard-to-detect cancers, including pancreatic cancer, well before symptoms typically prompt patients to seek medical evaluation in the first place, a shift researchers say could meaningfully improve survival outcomes for a disease that has historically offered patients very little advance warning.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce welcomed roughly 1,000 guests to their wedding at New York City’s Madison Square Garden on July 3, but a number of familiar faces from the couple’s extended circle were noticeably absent from the celebration, with reasons ranging from scheduling conflicts to a technical mishap to lingering personal tension.

Among the most talked-about absences were Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds. Lively’s ongoing legal battle with her “It Ends With Us” co-star Justin Baldoni drew Swift into the dispute after private text messages involving the singer were unsealed in court, complicating what had once been a close friendship between Swift and Lively. Initial reports suggested Swift had deliberately left Lively and Reynolds off the guest list altogether. One source described the shift in the relationship bluntly. “Taylor’s in a different place now and she just wants to be around people she trusts and who bring her peace,” the source said. “It’s a shame because she and Blake really were close, but she doesn’t think it’s something that’s going to be fixed. As far as [Taylor’s] concerned, their friendship is done.”

A separate source, however, offered a more nuanced account, telling the Daily Mail that Lively had in fact been invited and that the two women had spoken by phone ahead of the wedding. “Everyone around Taylor is aware that Blake could attend. She may not, but that won’t be because she isn’t welcome,” the source said, adding that Lively appeared to be working her way back into Swift’s inner circle. “Blake is on the cusp of getting a second chance, and they have had some loose conversations to test the waters to get the trust back. Blake is slowly getting back into the fold now that Taylor is having a change of heart.”

NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley confirmed he skipped the wedding for reasons entirely unrelated to any personal rift, explaining on the radio show “Unfiltered with Ricky Bo and Bill Colarulo” that he simply avoids large formal events altogether. “I thought it was gonna be a c— show,” Barkley said, adding that he holds Travis and his brother Jason Kelce in high regard despite only having met Swift once. “I love Travis and Jason [Kelce], and I’ve only met Taylor one time. But, yeah, I did get an invite, but I said, ‘Hey, you know what, that’s just too much. I just want to hang out and play golf, but I don’t want to dress up and all that other stuff.’ But I appreciate the invitation, it was pretty special.”

Model Jaime King, whose son Leo is Swift’s godson, also missed the ceremony, with a representative explaining the decision reflected the family’s approach to the godmother relationship rather than any snub. “The reason Jaime chose Taylor as Leo Thames’s godmother is because they both believe that being a godmother is a deeply personal and spiritual commitment that has nothing to do with public appearances,” publicist Jane Owen told Page Six, noting that Leo instead celebrated the marriage in his own age-appropriate way during summer break.

Singer-songwriter James Taylor, whom Swift was named after, confirmed during a July 3 concert in Massachusetts that he and his wife, Caroline “Kim” Smedvig, had received an invitation but were unable to attend because of a scheduled Fourth of July performance with his All-Star Band. “I do want to wish the couple all happiness and smooth sailing and strength when it can’t be smooth,” Taylor told the crowd that night.

Several other artists and friends within Swift’s broader circle were absent as well, including Lorde, amid past rumors of tension between the two, and Eras Tour opening act Maisie Peters, who confirmed on “The Zach Sang Show” in May that she had not been invited. “But I think that’s OK … obviously I’m a huge fan. And maybe one day I’ll get to try the sourdough,” Peters said.

Margaret Qualley also skipped the celebration despite her husband, Jack Antonoff, a longtime Swift collaborator, being in attendance. A source later confirmed the couple had separated after nearly three years of marriage, explaining her absence.

Music producer Garret “Jacknife” Lee missed the wedding under unusual circumstances, according to an op-ed his wife, Melissa Garner Lee, published in HuffPost on July 8. Melissa wrote that her husband had received the invitation via text but dismissed it as spam. “‘I got a text but I thought it was spam,’ he told me, sounding defensive. ‘WHAT!?’ I asked in total disbelief,” she wrote, recalling his explanation. “Yeah — remember I told you I got a text from her manager? But I didn’t respond to it. It didn’t sound like him.” Despite the missed opportunity, Melissa said the couple’s relationship remained solid. “A missed wedding will not be what breaks us. We’re stronger than that. Still, it would’ve been fun to see her dress,” she wrote.

Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin went so far as to move his annual White Party from its traditional Fourth of July weekend slot to July 1, reportedly anticipating a conflict with the wedding, but ultimately was not invited at all. “I was not at the wedding,” Rubin told TMZ. “No invite for me. Travis is a great guy, they’re a great couple and I’m so happy for them.”

Miles and Keleigh Teller also skipped the ceremony amid rumors of a falling out with Swift. Prince William played coy when asked directly by Amanda Holden whether he had received an invitation, saying, “No comment. I’m hoping and I’m sure there might be an invitation around but we’ll see.” While William and Kate Middleton did not ultimately attend the roughly 1,000-guest ceremony, reports indicated the royal couple held a private meeting with Swift and Kelce shortly before the wedding took place.

Actor Robert Pattinson, whose fiancée Suki Waterhouse did attend, cited work commitments for his own absence. “I was working,” Pattinson told Entertainment Tonight on July 6. “I was shooting Batman this morning. Very busy.” Television host Ryan Seacrest similarly had to withdraw after initially planning to attend, telling listeners of his radio show on July 6 that a Disney assignment forced him to cancel. “I RSVP’d to go, and then Disney hired me to do the Fourth of July 250 special on the third and the fourth, so I had to cancel,” Seacrest said. “It wasn’t a waste! I was actually really excited. I was kind of torn.”

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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of MU either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it. I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given that any particular security, portfolio, transaction or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person. The author is not advising you personally concerning the nature, potential, value or suitability of any particular security or other matter. You alone are solely responsible for determining whether any investment, security or strategy, or any product or service, is appropriate or suitable for you based on your investment objectives and personal and financial situation. Steven Cress is the Head of Quantitative Strategy at Seeking Alpha. Any views or opinions expressed herein may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank.

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