Cancer is emerging as a major public health problem in India. Cancer is life threatening because malignant tumors usually grow and spread across different organs in asymptomatic healthy individuals over many years.

All cells normally grow and divide (multiply) to replace old cells and thus keep the body healthy. A cell turns malignant and spreads across the body uncontrollably if undetected.

Symptoms don’t usually show up till late stages of cancer where treatment becomes difficult or impossible.

PanTum Detect is a multi-tumor screening blood test that measures levels of two enzyme biomarkers present within your immune cells (macrophages). If the enzyme biomarkers levels are raised the test is positive.

PanTum Detect test detects the presence of two enzyme biomarkers in whole human blood, which are increasingly formed in all solid tumors – even in the early, asymptomatic phase. The two enzyme biomarkers are called Transketolase-like-1 (TKTL1) and DNaseX (Apo10).

TKTL1 provides an indication of switch towards invasive growth. TKTL1 regulates anaerobic glucose metabolism (Warburg effect) which is fermentation of glucose using the Pentose Phosphate Pathway resulting in the formation of lactic acid and breakdown of collagen matrix leading to metastasis.

DNaseX (Apo10) provides indication of tumor proliferation. Elevated levels of DNaseX (Apo10) enzyme is the result of disruption of programmed cell death (Apoptosis).

No, the test does not show the type, spread or location of the cancer. PanTum Detect is a screening blood test and a positive result indicates the presence of a tumor if the levels of two enzyme biomarkers are raised. In case of a positive test result, Imaging (PET/CT, MRI) & Pathology diagnostics (Tumor markers, Histopathology / Cytology) are carried out for further confirmatory diagnosis.

The “Cancer-Scan” program combines blood testing with PanTum® Detect and confirmatory techniques (Imaging + Pathology) for those who test positive as an integrated multi-tumor screening concept for early detection of cancer.

If your test is positive, you will need to schedule an appointment with your doctor who will assess you clinically, including any signs and symptoms you may have. You will be referred to an Oncologist who will guide you on follow-up investigations for confirmatory diagnosis (Imaging + Pathology).

This is great news! No immediate further test is required. Maintain a healthy and active lifestyle. Your doctor will recommend that you schedule another PanTum Detect blood test after 3 to12 months depending on your total PanTum Detect negative score. It is recommended that you continue with routine cancer screenings based on your doctor’s guidance.

PanTum® Detect has a EU-IVDR certification with a sensitivity of 82% (true positives) and specificity of 99% (true negatives).

• Statistically 18 in 100 candidates with the disease will receive a false negative result (they do have a disease but test negative).
• Statistically 1 in 100 candidates screened will receive a false positive result (they don’t have any disease but test positive).

Individuals who want to undergo PanTum Detect need to be in a healthy state to ensure highest blood sample quality.

Following are the inclusion / exclusion criteria for undergoing PanTum Detect blood test.

• Individuals less than 18 years of age.
• Individuals diagnosed with cancer and on active treatment.
• Individuals who have undergone imaging investigation where contrast media has been used (MRI / PET-CT / CT) can undergo this blood test after 1 week.
• Individuals who have suffered from acute bacterial or viral infection (Covid, Acute herpes zoster, Typhoid, Viral hepatitis, etc.) can undergo this blood test after 2 weeks of recovery.
• Individuals who have been administered any vaccination can undergo this blood test after 4 weeks.
• Individuals who are on following medications can undergo this blood test after stopping the medication for 8 weeks.
  • Corticosteroid containing drugs
  • Immunosuppressants (Methotrexate, Cyclosporine, Azathioprine, Tacrolimus, Mycophenolate, Rapamycin, Sirolimus, Adalimumab, Infliximab etc.)
  • Amygdalin (Vitamin B17)
  • GMCSF (Sargramostim)
• Individuals who have suffered from febrile illness or any major surgery or any severe trauma can undergo this blood test after 8 weeks of recovery.
• Individuals in remission (free of cancer and not on any active treatment) for 1 year can undergo this test.

Benefits:

• PanTum Detect is a simple blood test for immune cells analysis for early warning signals covering 200+ cancer sites
• PanTum Detect has an EU-IVDR labeled sensitivity of 82% (true positives) and specificity of 99% (true negatives).
• PanTum Detect is suitable for preventive cancer health check and offers screened candidates protection from risk of delay in detection of 200+ cancer sites.
• Annual screening for 200+ cancer sites reduces preventable cancer deaths and increases the chance of detecting a silently growing tumor in early localized stage/s.
• Only those screened candidates who test positive with PanTum Detect are exposed to standard protocols for early-stage cancer detection advanced imaging & pathology diagnostics
• Financial sponsors obtain documented evidence of limiting cost per cancer event to maximum of ₹ 2 to 5 Lakhs reducing cancer risk to avail adequate “group” health cover at lower insurance premiums

Limitations:

• PanTum Detect is not suitable for individuals with a compromised immune system which negatively influences circulating macrophage numbers.
• No screening test provides a result that is 100% accurate or reliable
• s per EU-IVDR approved Instruction for Use (IFU): 
  • Specificity of 99% means statistically 1 % (1 in 100) candidates screened will receive a false positive result (they don’t have the disease but test positive).
  • Sensitivity of 82% means statistically 18% (18 in 100) candidates with disease will receive a false negative result (they do have malignant tumor growth but test negative).
• Psychological strain of false positive results for healthy individuals screened annually with PanTum Detect needs to be considered alongside benefits of timely detection of all solid organ cancer types within the critical detection time window that significantly increases survival rates and reduces treatment complexity and medical costs/insurance claims.