Exciting blood test results for 50 cancer cases

A new study shows that a blood test for more than 50 types of cancer can help speed up diagnosis.

Results of a trial conducted in North America show that the test was able to identify a wide range of cancers, three-quarters of which did not have any form of screening programme.

More than half of all cancer cases are detected at an early stage, when it is easier to treat and potentially curable.

The Gallery test, conducted by the US pharmaceutical company Grail, can detect parts of cancerous DNA that have broken down the tumor and are circulating in the blood.

The trial followed 25,000 adults from the United States and Canada over the course of a year.

Nearly one in 100 of those tested received a positive result, and in 62% of these cases the cancer was later confirmed.

The test correctly ruled out cancer in more than 99% of those who tested negative.

When this was combined with breast, bowel and cervical screening, the number of cancer cases detected overall increased seven-fold.

Importantly, three-quarters of the cancers detected were those for which there was no screening programme, such as ovarian, liver, stomach, bladder and pancreatic cancer.

The blood test correctly identified the origin of the cancer in nine out of 10 cases.

These impressive results suggest that the blood test could ultimately play a key role in diagnosing cancer early.

Scientists not involved in the research say more evidence is needed to show whether the blood test reduces cancer deaths.

Higher results will be published in European Society of Medical Oncology The conference is in Berlin, but full details have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Much will depend on the results of a three-year trial of 140,000 NHS patients in England, which will be published next year.

The NHS previously said that if the results were successful, it would expand testing to include a further million people.

Lead researcher Dr. Nima Nabavizadeh, assistant professor of radiology at Oregon Health & Science University, said the latest data shows the test could “fundamentally change our approach to cancer screening, helping to detect many cancers early, when the chance of successful treatment or even cure is greatest.”

But Claire Turnbull, professor of translational cancer genetics at the Institute of Cancer Research, London, said: “Data from randomized studies, with mortality as an endpoint, will be absolutely essential to determine whether Gallery’s apparently early-stage discovery translates into mortality benefits.”

Sir Harpal Kumar, head of biopharmaceuticals at Grail, told the BBC: “We think these results are very compelling.

“The opportunity for us is that we can find many cancers — and many of the most aggressive cancers — at an earlier stage when we have more effective and potentially curative treatments.”

Nasser Al-Turabi, from Cancer Research UK, said: “More research is needed to avoid over-diagnosing cancers that may not have caused harm.”

“The UK National Screening Committee will play a crucial role in reviewing the evidence and deciding whether these tests should be approved by the NHS.”