Two-thirds of cancers detected by blood test in England
A new blood test developed by the American company Grail has shown promising results in detecting cancer. The test, called “Galleri,” has correctly identified two-thirds of cancer cases in 5,000 patients presenting with suspicious symptoms to family doctors in England and Wales. The test also successfully pinpointed the exact location of the disease in 85% of the cases.
The Galleri test works by searching for specific changes in parts of the genetic code that leak from different types of cancer. Early detection using this test could prove life-saving for those with curable types of cancer.
Although Prof. Mark Middleton, one of the coordinators of the research, admits that the test is still “open to development,” experts suggest that it has the potential to increase the number of cancer diagnoses. While the test is not yet accurate enough to make definitive diagnoses, the predictions that it provides could help clinicians decide whether endoscopy or a scan is required.
The NHS is also testing the Galleri test on thousands of people without symptoms to potentially detect occult cancer. The first results of these studies are expected to be released later this year. If successful, the NHS hopes to roll out the test to over a million people in the coming years.
The findings of the Galleri test will be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology conference in Chicago and will be published in The Lancet Oncology.
