An innovative blood test that can identify cancer before symptoms arise is undergoing assessment for potential NHS implementation, according to health officials. Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced the government’s support for the next phase of testing for the groundbreaking blood test, which has the capability to detect 12 types of cancers, including bowel cancer.
During an event commemorating the renaming of a cancer lab in memory of the late Dame Deborah James, Mr. Streeting emphasized that this advancement will contribute to elevating England’s cancer survival rates to world-class standards.
“Dame Deborah James dedicated her life to raising cancer awareness and pursuing strategies to combat it. It is fitting that we honor her legacy by investing in research to combat one of the nation’s leading causes of death,” Mr. Streeting remarked. Dame Deborah succumbed to bowel cancer at the age of 40 in 2022.
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The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) officials disclosed that the Bowelbabe Laboratory at the Francis Crick Institute in London, funded by Cancer Research UK, will unite top scientists for cutting-edge research. Patients, including those with bowel cancer, are projected to benefit from the test in the near future, the department indicated.
The miONCO-Dx blood test could result in the detection of more cancers at an early stage, leading to more effective treatments, officials added. The technology, developed in collaboration with scientists from the University of Southampton, analyzes microRNA in a blood sample and employs AI to identify the presence and location of cancer in the body. Initial tests revealed its ability to detect 12 prevalent cancers – including lung, gastric, prostate, oesophageal, liver, bladder, ovarian, bowel, pancreatic, and breast cancers, as well as bone and soft tissue sarcoma and a type of brain tumor – with 99% accuracy.
Developed using data from 20,000 patients, the technology is set to be trialed in 8,000 patients with the support of a £2.4 million grant from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and the Government.
The DHSC announced that the test’s development has entered the “verification and validation phase,” focusing on accumulating evidence to substantiate its approval for use in the NHS.
Mr. Streeting, a cancer survivor himself, stressed, “Early detection is crucial for cancer survival. This government is taking prompt action through leading-edge technology to detect bowel cancer early and fortify the UK’s infrastructure for cancer research and treatment.”
Professor Lucy Chappell, chief scientific adviser at the DHSC and chief executive of the NIHR, expressed, “Innovations like the miONCO-Dx blood test usher in a new era in cancer detection, offering the potential for swifter, simpler, and more effective identification of cancer before it becomes harder to treat.”
NHS England’s national medical director, Professor Sir Stephen Powis, outlined the potential of the blood test to aid in early detection of bowel cancer while diminishing the need for invasive procedures. Further evidence gathering in the upcoming trial is crucial to understanding its effectiveness and practical application, he noted.
Dame Deborah James, a fervent campaigner for bowel cancer awareness, played a pivotal role in reshaping national discourse on the disease. The lab named in her honor will spearhead research aimed at enhancing the survival prospects of those afflicted by the disease, remarked Professor Sir Stephen Powis.
Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, welcomed Health Secretary Wes Streeting to the Bowelbabe Laboratory and highlighted the state-of-the-art research conducted in memory of the inspirational Dame Deborah James.