Researchers from Oxford University have revealed promising results from a blood test that could accelerate cancer treatment and reduce NHS waiting times.
The study involved testing the Galleri blood test, manufactured by US company Grail, on over 5,000 participants. While Grail's test can detect more than 50 types of cancer by analyzing cell-free DNA in the blood, this trial concentrated on a select few, including gynecological, lung, lower GI, and upper GI cancers.
The data, presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology conference in Chicago, revealed that three-quarters of individuals receiving a positive result from the blood test did indeed have cancer. Overall, 66.3% of cancer cases were correctly identified.
Although the test missed one-third of cancer cases, its specificity rate of 98.4% (the ability to rule out cancer as the cause of symptoms) holds great promise in efficiently excluding cancer in those who don't have it.
Of the 5,461 participants, 368 were ultimately diagnosed with cancer. Notably, the test produced positive results for 323 individuals, and 244 of them were confirmed to have cancer.
Patients were referred for further testing by their GPs after initially reporting vague symptoms like abdominal pain and weight loss. Scientists anticipate that this test can not only diagnose cancer but also pinpoint the tumor's location within the body, streamlining the treatment process.
In some cases, the test identified cancers in unexpected areas of the body, which may not have been suggested by the patients' symptoms.
This breakthrough in cancer diagnosis represents a significant leap forward in healthcare. While the test is not complete, its potential to detect cancer accurately and rule it out in cases where it is absent is a substantial victory. Faster cancer diagnosis and treatment can significantly improve patient outcomes, making this development a triumph for humanity in the fight against one of its most formidable adversaries.
Source: Oxford University. "Multi-cancer blood test shows real promise in NHS trial". https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2023-06-02-multi-cancer-blood-test-shows-real-promise-nhs-trial. 2 June 2023. [Accessed: 3 June, 2023].
Edited by Ansh Pincha.
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