NHS Rejects Promising Blood Test for Early Cancer Detection Following Trial
‘Holy grail’ blood test for dozens of cancers set to be rejected by NHS after failing early diagnosis trial
Image: The Sun
The NHS has decided against rolling out the Galleri multi-cancer early detection blood test after a £150 million trial showed it did not significantly reduce late-stage cancer diagnoses. Although it detected four times more cancers than standard screenings, the increase in stage three tumors raised concerns about its effectiveness.
- 01The Galleri test detected 1,173 cancers compared to 290 with standard NHS screenings.
- 02Despite a 25% reduction in stage four cancer cases, there was a 3% increase in stage three tumors.
- 03The trial involved 143,000 participants over three years, costing £150 million.
- 04Dr. Julie Gralow from ASCO stated that the test will not receive NHS approval based on the trial data.
- 05NHS England currently offers routine screenings for breast, bowel, cervical, and lung cancers.
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The NHS has opted not to adopt the Galleri multi-cancer early detection blood test after it failed a significant trial aimed at proving its effectiveness in reducing late-stage cancer diagnoses. The trial, which cost £150 million and involved 143,000 participants, found that while the test identified 1,173 cancers—four times more than standard NHS methods—it did not significantly lower the number of late-stage diagnoses. In fact, while stage four cancers saw a 25% decrease, there was a concerning 3% increase in stage three tumors. Experts, including Dr. Julie Gralow from the American Society of Clinical Oncology, noted that the results did not provide sufficient evidence for NHS approval. The NHS currently provides routine screenings for breast, bowel, cervical, and lung cancers, emphasizing the importance of early detection for effective treatment.
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The rejection of the Galleri test means that patients in the UK will continue to rely on existing screening methods, which may limit early cancer detection opportunities.
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