A path-breaking research by an Indian-American scientist suggests that a simple blood test may determine whether gene mutations associated with pancreatic cancer exist without the need of locating tumour tissue. The research takes into account tiny particles called 'exosomes' that are shed by cancer cells into the blood and contain the entire genetic blueprint of cancer cells. “By decoding this genomic data and looking for deletions and mutations associated with cancer we believe this discovery could be translated into a test that helps physicians detect cancer and treat patients” said Raghu Kalluri chairman and professor in University of Texas' MD