England Trial Tests Whether Multi-Cancer Blood Tests Can Help GPs Diagnose Earlier

A clinical trial in England will examine whether blood tests designed to detect multiple cancers can help family doctors identify patients needing further investigation sooner, Reuters and BBC News reported.

The tests remain under evaluation. The trial will assess their effectiveness before any decision about wider NHS use, both outlets reported. Reuters said researchers will investigate whether using them leads to earlier diagnoses and improved chances of survival.

More than 20,000 patients aged 45 and over with abdominal symptoms, including persistent bloating or discomfort, will be eligible to participate. Reuters reported that at least 200 GP practices will take part, while BBC News described participation at around 200 surgeries.

Both outlets identified the University of Birmingham as central to the research. BBC News said the government-funded trial is university-led; Reuters reported that the tests were developed by the university and its partners.

The tests seek signals of cancer in blood samples and may help identify where a tumour is located. Reuters described technologies involving artificial intelligence and blood protein measurements. BBC News also reported testing for DNA fragments that may indicate cancer.

BBC News identified the study as STRIDE-RCT and said patients would provide one or two tubes of blood at their GP practice alongside routine tests.

Reuters reported that the trial covers 14 cancers, including prostate, ovarian, bowel, pancreatic, stomach and liver cancer. BBC News additionally named small bowel, oesophageal, bile duct, gallbladder, endometrial, kidney and bladder cancers.

The research addresses difficulties in recognising abdominal cancers from symptoms that can resemble less serious conditions. BBC News cited NHS England’s national clinical director for cancer, Prof Peter Johnson, explaining that early detection is particularly challenging.

Around 71,000 people in England are diagnosed annually with pancreatic, stomach, liver, ovarian or bowel cancer, and nearly 35,000 die from those diseases, according to BBC News. The outlet reported that earlier diagnosis improves the chances of successful treatment and survival.

However, BBC News stressed that a positive blood test does not automatically establish cancer, while a negative result cannot guarantee its absence. The results are intended to help doctors decide who needs further investigation.

BBC News also distinguished the research from a separate NHS trial of Galleri, another multi-cancer blood test. That trial failed to meet its main goal of reducing late-stage cancer diagnoses, although researchers continue to assess its potential benefits.

The new trial will evaluate how the tests support GPs’ clinical judgement, Reuters reported.

Sources

• Doctors in England launch primary-care trial of blood tests for spotting cancer early
• 'Multi-cancer' blood tests coming to some GP surgeries soon