In the news: New blood test could detect '12 types of cancer' before symptoms

Brain Tumour Research

2 min read

A blood test that can detect the 12 most common and lethal cancers before symptoms develop is to be funded by the Government, in an announcement made on Sunday (6^th October).

The blood test, known as miONCO, is a form of the PCR test used during the COVID-19 pandemic. It costs £120 and checks for the 12 most common cancers, including the most common high-grade brain tumour, glioblastoma (GBM). Researchers say it’s 99% accurate and beats similar tests. Early trials have indicated it detects cancer at any stage and even before symptoms.

Still undergoing tests to assess the approach and whether it has clinical impact on patients, the Government announced it will fund £2.5 million via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to improve the test, making it faster and cheaper. The scientists behind the test have set up start-up company Xgenera to roll it out, saying it has “potential to save millions of lives” globally.

The next stage will see the artificial intelligence, which analyses the test samples and biomarkers, perfected by entering 8,000 blood samples from people of diverse ethnic backgrounds.

Professor Paul Skipp, of Southampton University and recipient of the funding, said: "A test like this could save many lives, catching cancers much earlier. We hope to have an NHS test in five to seven years."

Currently, only four types of cancer have NHS screening tests – breast, bowel, cervical and lung cancer – but involve either a scan or a biopsy.

Dr Karen Noble, our Director of Research, Policy and Innovation, said: “At present, there is no approved screening programme or blood test on the NHS that can detect a brain tumour. The only way to diagnose a brain tumour is through an expensive scan, such as an MRI. This, coupled with the fact that brain tumour symptoms can be fairly non-specific, means many patients have to visit their GP multiple times before getting a referral and subsequent brain tumour diagnosis.

"Therefore, we welcome any development that will help patients get a faster diagnosis of their cancer, avoiding multiple GP trips, and as a result potentially starting their treatment sooner.

"We will be keeping an eye on any developments in the blood test going forward.”