England Launches World-First Trial of Multi-Cancer Blood Tests in GP Surgeries

London: A clinical trial in England will assess whether simple blood tests capable of detecting multiple common cancers can help family doctors diagnose the disease earlier and improve patients’ chances of survival.

The trial, described as a world first, will examine whether such tests can help general practitioners (GPs) identify patients in need of urgent treatment much sooner than is currently possible. Several tests developed by the University of Birmingham and its partners will be evaluated for their ability to detect signs of a range of cancers in a single blood sample and indicate where in the body the disease originates.

The initiative comes as Britain continues to record one of the highest cancer mortality rates among OECD countries on a per capita basis.

The trial will cover 14 types of cancer, including prostate, ovarian, bowel, pancreatic, stomach and liver cancers, many of which are frequently diagnosed at a late stage when treatment options are more limited.

At least 200 GP practices across England’s National Health Service (NHS) will take part, covering more than 20,000 patients. Participation will be open to patients aged 45 and over who visit their GP with abdominal symptoms such as persistent bloating or discomfort.

The tests will draw on a range of technologies, including artificial intelligence and the measurement of proteins in the blood.

The trial will evaluate how effectively the tests support GPs’ clinical judgement, and its findings will inform any future decision on whether to roll them out nationally.