New cancer blood test shows promise in major NHS trial

A new blood test for more than 50 types of cancer has shown success in a major NHS study.

The blood test, offered to patients who visited their GP with suspected cancer symptoms, has correctly revealed two out of every three cancers in the study.

The test, which looks for abnormal DNA in the blood, identifies genetic codes from different cancers. In 85% of positive cases, the test was able to pinpoint the original site of cancer. 

The SYMPLIFY study recruited over 6,200 participants aged 18 and over at 43 sites in England and Wales, including more than 1,100 recruited in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. Recruitment has now closed.

The results were presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Read more on the University of Oxford website.