A new blood test that uses AI to detect signs of a dozen cancers long before symptoms develop is to be tested on NHS patients.
The trial on 8,000 patients will analyse blood samples for tiny fragments of genetic material released by tumours.
Tests so far on 20,000 patients show the miONCO-Dx test is 99% accurate in detecting cancer and pinpointing where it is located, allowing a diagnosis to be made when the disease is at a far earlier, treatable stage.
As little as 10 drops of blood are all that’s needed to detect up to 12 common 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 tumour.
The Department of Health said the test was now ready for the “validation and verification” stage.
Announcement of the trial came as a laboratory was renamed in memory of bowel cancer campaigner Dame Deborah James, who died from the disease aged 40 three years ago.
The Bowelbabe lab, which is funded by Cancer Research UK, will bring together scientists to focus on the second most common cause of cancer deaths in the country.
Visiting the lab, her mum, Heather, said: “Deborah was quite a science geek really.
“Having known how much research she would go into for her own self and for other people, I think she would be so chuffed to see what her fundraising for the Babefund has gone towards.
“I am proud of that as well and pleased to see. Things are coming to life that we could only wish happened and it will save more lives, I’m sure.”
The government has awarded £2.4m to run the trial of the genetic test, which was developed by the University of Southampton and the biotech startup Xgenera.
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Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS England’s national medical director, said: “This blood test has the potential to help us detect bowel cancer earlier and reduce the need for invasive tests, and the next step in this trial will now be vital in gathering further evidence on its effectiveness and how it could work in practice.
“Dame Deborah James was a tireless and inspirational campaigner who helped change the national conversation on bowel cancer – it’s fitting that this lab in her name will drive forward research that could help thousands more people survive the disease.”
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There are 44,000 new cases of bowel cancer in the UK each year, with 17,000 deaths.
If caught early about nine in 10 patients survive, but survival drops to just one in 10 if the diagnosis is made at a late stage.
