NHS to offer blood test that finds 50 cancers

Scheme has potential to ‘save lives on a vast scale’ after deal struck with American diagnostics firm

A “game-changing” blood test which could detect more than 50 types of cancer is to be introduced by the NHS, the head of the health service has said. Charities said the changes could “save lives on a vast scale” by detecting potentially lethal disease years before symptoms emerged. The new checks, which use a simple blood test to identify molecular changes, can detect types of disease which are difficult to diagnose early, such as ovarian, pancreatic and oesophageal cancers.

A “GAME-CHANGING” blood test that could detect more than 50 types of cancer is to be introduced by the NHS, the head of the health service has said.

Charities said the changes could “save lives on a vast scale” by detecting potentially lethal disease years before symptoms emerged.

The new checks, which use a simple blood test, will be first piloted with 165,000 patients in a deal struck by NHS England and funded by an American diagnostics company.

Research has found that the tests – which identify molecular changes – can detect types of disease that are difficult to diagnose early, such as ovarian, pancreatic and oesophageal cancers.

Participants aged between 50 and 79 will be asked to have annual blood tests for three years.

If the programme shows that the “Galleri” test developed by Us-based company Grail, works as well as trials suggest, it will be rolled out to become routinely available.

In England, about half of cancers are currently diagnosed at an early stage, with targets to increase this to three quarters by 2028.

Patients who have their condition diagnosed at stage one typically have up to 10 times the chance of surviving compared with those found at stage four.

Sir Simon Stevens, the chief executive of the NHS, said that while cancer survival is now at a record high, more then 1,000 people are diagnosed daily.

He said: “Early detection, particularly for hard-to-treat conditions like ovarian and pancreatic cancer, has the potential to save many lives.

“This promising blood test could therefore be a game-changer in cancer care, helping thousands more people to get successful treatment.”

Britain is lagging in international l eague tables for cancer survival, largely due to how late many cases are spotted.

Experts are fearful that the pandemic has worsened this crisis, increasing the numbers who have not come forward to have worrying symptoms checked.

Candidates will be identified through NHS records and approached to take part in the trials, which are due to start next year. Anyone who tests positive will be referred for further checks.

Another 25,000 people with possible cancer symptoms will also be offered testing to speed up their diagnosis after being referred to hospital in the normal way.

Results of these studies are expected by 2023, and if outcomes are positive they will be expanded to involve about one million participants across 2024 and 2025.

Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, said: “We are building a world-leading diagnostics industry in the UK – not just for coronavirus but for other diseases too.

“This exciting and groundbreaking new blood test from Grail will give us another tool to give more people the very best chance of survival, demonstrating how the UK continues to lead the way in using the latest innovative treatments to help patients.

“Many of us know a loved one who has battled against cancer and have seen first-hand the impact of this deadly disease.

Michelle Mitchell, Cancer Research UK’S chief executive, said earlier diagnosis was the single biggest opportunity to save lives from cancer.

She said: “All too often, people are diagnosed with cancer at a late stage, when their disease is more difficult to treat. This is a human tragedy, not just in terms of lives lost, but it also means more expensive treatments, hospital stays and monitoring.

“If we can turn this on its head and find cancer at its earliest stages when it’s easier to treat, not only will we be able to save lives on a vast scale, but we may be able to save our NHS millions of pounds.”

Lord David Prior, the chairman of NHS England, said: “Every year nearly 200,000 people in the UK die from cancer. Many of these people are diagnosed too late for treatment to be effective.

“This collaboration between the NHS and Grail offers the chance for a wide range of cancers to be diagnosed much earlier and could fundamentally change the outlook for people with cancer.”

Sir Harpal Kumar, president of Grail Europe, said: “Galleri, a simple blood test that’s capable of detecting more than 50 cancers, is a ground-breaking and potentially life-saving advance that could have a tremendous human and economic benefit.”