Potential Breakthrough in Cancer Detection with New Blood Test
A recent study suggests that a blood test capable of detecting over 50 types of cancer could accelerate diagnosis.
Trial results conducted across North America indicate that this test successfully identified a broad spectrum of cancers, particularly highlighting that about 75% of these cancers currently lack any form of screening program.
Encouragingly, more than half of the cancers discovered were at early stages, where treatment options are more effective and the likelihood of a cure is higher.
This test, known as the Galleri test, developed by the American pharmaceutical company Grail, works by identifying fragments of cancerous DNA that have broken away from tumors and are circulating in the bloodstream.
In the trial, which monitored 25,000 adults from the US and Canada over the course of a year, nearly 1% of participants received positive results, with cancer being confirmed in 62% of those cases. Additionally, the test accurately ruled out cancer in over 99% of negative tests.
When used alongside traditional screenings for breast, bowel, and cervical cancers, the combination boosted the overall cancer detection rate by seven times.
It’s particularly noteworthy that three-quarters of the detected cancers did not have existing screening programs, including types like ovarian, liver, stomach, bladder, and pancreatic cancers.
The test demonstrated a remarkable ability to pinpoint the cancer’s origin in 90% of cases.
These promising outcomes suggest that this blood test could play a substantial role in earlier cancer diagnosis.
However, scientists not directly involved in the study caution that additional data is necessary to determine if this blood test actually leads to a decrease in cancer mortality rates.
The preliminary findings are scheduled to be shared at the European Society for Medical Oncology congress in Berlin, though comprehensive details are still pending publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
Much hinges on an extensive three-year trial expected to involve 140,000 NHS patients in England, with results anticipated next year.
According to the NHS, if outcomes from this test prove favorable, it could be expanded to reach an additional one million individuals.
Dr. Nima Nabavizadeh, the lead researcher and an Associate Professor of Radiation Medicine at Oregon Health & Science University, expressed that the latest data could “fundamentally change our approach to cancer screening, enabling earlier detection of various cancers when successful treatment is most achievable.”
Yet, Clare Turnbull, Professor of Translational Cancer Genetics at The Institute of Cancer Research in London, remarked, “It’s crucial to derive data from randomized studies, with mortality as a focus, to confirm whether the apparent early-stage detection facilitated by Galleri leads to significant mortality benefits.”
Sir Harpal Kumar, President of Biopharma at Grail, shared with the BBC, “We consider these results highly compelling. There’s an opportunity to identify many more cancers, including more aggressive types, at significantly earlier stages when more effective and potentially curative treatments are available.”
Naser Turabi from Cancer Research UK emphasized the need for further research to prevent over-diagnosing cancers that may not pose a threat. He noted that the UK National Screening Committee will be essential in assessing the evidence to decide whether to integrate these tests into the NHS screening protocols.
