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A blood test for more than 50 types of cancer could help speed up diagnosis, according to a new study.<\/p>\n
Results of a trial in North America show that the test was able to identify a wide range of cancers, of which three-quarters don’t have any form of screening programme.<\/p>\n
More than half the cancers were detected at an early stage, where they are easier to treat and potentially curable.<\/p>\n
The Galleri test, made by American pharmaceutical firm Grail, can detect fragments of cancerous DNA that have broken off a tumour and are circulating in the blood. It is currently being trialled by the NHS.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The trial followed 25,000 adults from the US and Canada over a year, with nearly one in 100 getting a positive result. For 62% of these cases, cancer was later confirmed. <\/p>\n
Lead researcher Dr Nima Nabavizadeh, associate professor of radiation medicine at Oregon Health & Science University, said the data showed that the test could “fundamentally change” their approach to cancer screening. <\/p>\n
He explained that it could help detect many types of cancer “earlier, when the chance of successful treatment or even cure are the greatest”.<\/p>\n
The test <\/b>correctly ruled out cancer in over 99% of those who tested negative. <\/p>\n
When combined with breast, bowel and cervical screening it increased the number of cancers detected overall seven-fold. <\/p>\n
Crucially, three-quarters of cancers detected were those which have no screening programme such as ovarian, liver, stomach, bladder and pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n
The blood test correctly identified the origin of the cancer in nine out of 10 cases.<\/p>\n
These impressive results suggest the blood test could eventually have a major role to play in diagnosing cancer earlier.<\/p>\n
But scientists not involved in the research say more evidence is needed to show whether the blood test reduces deaths from cancer.<\/p>\n
Clare Turnbull, professor of translational cancer genetics at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, said: “Data from randomised studies, with mortality as an endpoint, will be absolutely essential to establish whether seemingly earlier-stage detection by Galleri translates into benefits in mortality.”<\/p>\n