NHS to roll out ‘revolutionary’ blood test for lung cancer
Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent
Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.
New world-first blood test to transform cancer treatment
- The NHS in England is rolling out a new blood test (liquid biopsy) for lung cancer patients to speed up access to targeted treatments and avoid unnecessary biopsies, benefiting approximately 15,000 patients annually.
- The liquid biopsy detects tumour DNA mutations from a blood sample, allowing for faster access to therapies tailored to the genetic profile of the disease; a pilot scheme showed treatment decisions were made 16 days faster compared to tissue biopsies.
- The NHS will also use the test for breast cancer patients to check for a wider range of genetic variants, potentially benefiting 5,000 women a year, and is exploring its use for other cancers like pancreatic and gallbladder cancer.
- Professor Peter Johnson, NHS national clinical director for cancer, hailed liquid biopsies as ushering in a new era of personalised cancer care, while Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the new testing will "give thousands of people peace of mind".
- Rebeca Proctor, a stage 4 lung cancer patient, benefited from the liquid biopsy by receiving targeted treatment (brigatinib) after it revealed an ALK genetic mutation, giving her "her life back".