# HS boy invents pancreatic cancer screening test **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 23, 2012, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hs-boy-invents-pancreatic-cancer-screening-test/622872 "2012-05-23T20:22:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hs-boy-invents-pancreatic-cancer-screening-test/622872/1 "2012-05-23T20:22:52Z")
[Article here.](http://now.msn.com/now/0521-cancer-test-prize.aspx) > [@](#): > > 15-year-old Maryland schoolboy Jack Andraka has been busily pioneering a new way to test for pancreatic cancer. Andraka was awarded first prize at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair for his dipstick sensor which can test blood or urine to see if someone has early-stage pancreatic cancer. His patent-pending test has proved to be more than 90 percent accurate, and 28 times cheaper and 1000 times more sensitive than existing tests for the disease. Way to go, Jack! I lost my grandmother to pancreatic cancer. StG ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hs-boy-invents-pancreatic-cancer-screening-test/622872/2 "2012-05-23T20:58:22Z")
These kids today are just not like the way we were with their safety helmets and pancreatic cancer screening tests. Bunch of pansies. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hs-boy-invents-pancreatic-cancer-screening-test/622872/3 "2012-05-23T20:59:45Z")
True. Do you see him inventing a better set of lawn darts? StG ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hs-boy-invents-pancreatic-cancer-screening-test/622872/4 "2012-05-23T21:04:08Z")
If his test really does work well enough to become a standard screening test, that will be an incredible breakthrough for pancreatic cancer. As I’m sure you know, pancreatic cancer is almost always found at an advanced stage and is rapidly fatal in most cases. Since there are people who are known to be at higher risk of pancreatic cancer due to genetic factors, having an easy way to screen for pancreatic cancer at an early stage could make a huge difference for many. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hs-boy-invents-pancreatic-cancer-screening-test/622872/5 "2012-05-23T21:16:33Z")
> [@lavenderviolet](#): > > If his test really does work well enough to become a standard screening test, that will be an incredible breakthrough for pancreatic cancer. As I’m sure you know, pancreatic cancer is almost always found at an advanced stage and is rapidly fatal in most cases. It’s the #4 cause of cancer deaths worldwide, and is what killed Steve Jobs (and about 37,000 other Americans in 2011). A screening test to catch it earlier would be a great thing. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hs-boy-invents-pancreatic-cancer-screening-test/622872/6 "2012-05-23T21:18:57Z")
It’s especially good that this test is cheap and non-invasive. IF the product lives up to the promise, it might be able to be a part of a regular physical. StG ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hs-boy-invents-pancreatic-cancer-screening-test/622872/7 "2012-05-23T21:25:58Z")
[Here’s another article](http://www.examiner.com/article/remember-the-name-jack-andraka) which gives a few more particulars. Apparently it can detect other cancers also. At a cost of $.03 each. I would hope that there’s a good chance it works, given the prize he’s won. StG ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hs-boy-invents-pancreatic-cancer-screening-test/622872/8 "2012-05-23T21:35:27Z")
And the countdown til a drug company snatches this thing up and starts charging $800 a pop starts…now. ---
**Author:** ![brickbacon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@brickbacon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brickbacon)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hs-boy-invents-pancreatic-cancer-screening-test/622872/9 "2012-05-23T21:47:26Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > It’s especially good that this test is cheap and non-invasive. IF the product lives up to the promise, it might be able to be a part of a regular physical. > > StG Seems a little too good to be true, but the kid clearly is talented and motivated enough to solve a problem that really needs to be solved. That can only help in the long run. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hs-boy-invents-pancreatic-cancer-screening-test/622872/10 "2012-05-23T22:10:19Z")
What is the strip testing for? What’s the analyte? ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hs-boy-invents-pancreatic-cancer-screening-test/622872/11 "2012-05-23T23:34:07Z")
This is all I could find: > [@](#): > > “It detects an abnormal protein that you find in the blood when you have a pancreatic cancer,” said Dr. Anirban Maitra, professor of Pathology, Oncology and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. “He conceived this idea and I think the fact that he is 15 makes this whole story more remarkable. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hs-boy-invents-pancreatic-cancer-screening-test/622872/12 "2012-05-23T23:50:11Z")
I hope it pans out. Screening tests that are effective at catching a disease early enough to make a difference, and also being able to identify correctly those who don’t have the disease (thus avoiding painful and somewhat risky procedures) are hard to come by. QtM, who just lost a patient to canc of the panc 2 weeks ago. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hs-boy-invents-pancreatic-cancer-screening-test/622872/13 "2012-05-23T23:53:10Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > And the countdown til a drug company snatches this thing up and starts charging $800 a pop starts…now. And screws the kid out of his patent at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hs-boy-invents-pancreatic-cancer-screening-test/622872/14 "2012-05-23T23:53:11Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > This is all I could find: Thanks. I wish they would be a little bit more specific, as “an abnormal protein” could mean just about anything. I certainly hope he’s onto something! ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2012, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hs-boy-invents-pancreatic-cancer-screening-test/622872/15 "2012-05-24T00:10:38Z")
> [@Antigen](#): > > Thanks. I wish they would be a little bit more specific, as “an abnormal protein” could mean just about anything. I certainly hope he’s onto something! At a guess, your name is the answer. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hs-boy-invents-pancreatic-cancer-screening-test/622872/16 "2012-05-25T00:31:31Z")
> [@Anne\_Neville](#): > > It’s the #4 cause of cancer deaths worldwide, and is what killed Steve Jobs (and about 37,000 other Americans in 2011). A screening test to catch it earlier would be a great thing. It’s not \*quite \*accurate to say that pancreatic cancer killed Jobs. Yes, he had pancreatic cancer, but he had a much rarer and much more curable variety–he would probably still be here today (and quite likely cancer-free) if he hadn’t taken a big chunk of time of chasing untried “natural” cures and just gone for the treatments his doctors suggested. So yeah, while he technically did die of pancreatic cancer, it wasn’t because he got something that had basically no hope of a cure. I agree with you, though, that having a screening test for the deadlier variety would be amazing, and hopefully help a lot of people catch it before it’s beyond treatment. ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hs-boy-invents-pancreatic-cancer-screening-test/622872/17 "2012-05-25T02:29:48Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > And screws the kid out of his patent at the same time. I wonder if Intel will have rights to the patent. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hs-boy-invents-pancreatic-cancer-screening-test/622872/18 "2012-05-25T12:03:51Z")
[CNN interview with kid.](http://www.cnn.com/video/?hpt=hp_t2#/video/bestoftv/2012/05/25/exp-early-jack-andraka.cnn) Sounds like he will hold the patent, possibly with Johns Hopkins. StG