A new blood test could streamline diagnoses as study findings show it can correctly identify two out of every three cancers in a cohort of over 5,000 people who had visited their GP with suspected symptoms.
The trial, which was run by the University of Oxford, is the first large-scale evaluation of a multi-cancer early detection test.
The SYMPLIFY study also showed that, of those 5,000 patients, the blood test was accurate at identifying the origin cancer site 85% of the time.
Co-lead investigator of the study, Professor Mark Middleton, explained: "The test was 85% accurate in detecting the source of the cancer – and that can be really helpful because so many times it is not immediately obvious when you have got the patient in front of you what test is needed to see whether their symptoms are down to cancer.
“With that prediction from the test, we can decide whether to order a scope or a scan and make sure we are giving the right test the first time."
The test works by detecting minute fragments of cancer DNA in people’s bloodstreams. Health leaders hope it can support earlier diagnoses when cancers are the easiest to treat.
“This is a fantastic example of how academia and industry can work together for patient benefit,” said Professor Helen McShane, who is director of the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, which supported the study.
“We are committed to diagnosing cancers earlier, when they can be cured, and this study is an important step on that journey. SYMPLIFY also shows that we can run trials at scale using digital systems to deliver research quickly and cost effectively, with the help of the NIHR Clinical Research Network.”
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