The Galleri test, produced by the American pharmaceutical company Grail, can now detect pieces of cancerous DNA that have detached from a tumor and are present in the bloodstream. It is currently undergoing trials with the NHS.
A blood examination for over 50 variants of cancer could expedite the diagnostic process, according to recent research.
Findings from a trial conducted in North America indicate that the test successfully identified a broad spectrum of cancers, three-quarters of which lack any form of screening program.More than half of the cancers were discovered at an initial stage, making them easier to treat and potentially curable.
The study monitored 25,000 adults from the US and Canada over a year, with nearly one in every 100 receiving a positive result. Cancer was subsequently confirmed in 62% of these instances.
Lead researcher Dr. Nima Nabavizadeh, an associate professor of radiation medicine at Oregon Health & Science University, remarked that the findings suggest the test could “revolutionize” their approach to cancer screening.He noted that it could facilitate the early detection of numerous cancer types when the probability of successful treatment or even a cure is highest.” The test effectively ruled out cancer in more than 99% of those who tested negative.When used alongside breast, bowel, lung, and cervical screenings, it amplified the total number of cancers identified sevenfold.
Importantly, three-quarters of the cancers identified were those lacking a screening program, such as ovarian, liver, stomach, bladder, and pancreatic cancers.The blood examination accurately pinpointed the cancer’s origin in nine out of ten cases. These remarkable outcomes imply that the blood test could one day play a significant role in earlier cancer diagnosis. However, scientists not associated with the study emphasize that more evidence is required to confirm if the blood test reduces cancer-related mortality.
Clare Turnbull, a professor of translational cancer genetics at The Institute of Cancer Research in London, stated: “Data from randomized studies, with mortality as an endpoint, will be absolutely essential to determine if the seemingly earlier-stage detection by Galleri results in mortality benefits. The summary results are set to be presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology congress in Berlin this Saturday, but comprehensive details have yet to be published in a peer-reviewed journal. Much hinges on the outcomes of a three-year trial involving 140,000 NHS patients in England, to be released next year.
The NHS has indicated that should the results be favorable, it would extend testing to an additional one million individuals.Sir Harpal Kumar, president of biopharma at Grail, described the findings as “very compelling”. In a conversation on BBC Radio 4’s Today program, he remarked:
“The overwhelming majority of individuals who succumb to cancer do so because we identify their cancers too late.”Many cancers are discovered when they are “already quite advanced”, he continued, clarifying that the goal is to “transition to earlier detection, when we have the chance to employ treatments that are significantly more effective and potentially curative.”
However, Naser Turabi from Cancer Research UK cautioned that further investigation is necessary to “prevent overdiagnosing cancers that may not pose any threat.””The UK National Screening Committee will play a crucial role in evaluating the evidence and deciding whether these tests should be integrated into the NHS,” he added.