By Sohaib Shams
New blood tests designed to detect multiple cancers simultaneously will be offered to NHS patients at around 200 GP surgeries in England as part of a government-funded trial.
Targeting hard-to-detect abdominal cancers
The trial aims to identify cancers such as liver, ovarian and pancreatic cancer at an earlier stage. These cancers are often diagnosed only after they have spread. The tests search for proteins or DNA fragments in the blood that may indicate cancer.
Large-scale patient eligibility
More than 20,000 patients aged 45 and over with symptoms like persistent pain or bloating will be eligible. Participants will provide one or two tubes of blood during routine appointments.
STRIDE-RCT trial details
The study, led by the University of Birmingham, covers bowel, stomach, oesophageal, pancreatic, liver, bile duct, gallbladder, ovarian, endometrial, kidney, bladder and prostate cancers. Scientists will analyse samples for signs of cancer and may pinpoint tumour location. A positive result does not confirm cancer, and a negative result is not a guaranteed all-clear.
Previous trial challenges
A separate NHS trial of the Galleri test recently failed to meet its primary goal of reducing late-stage cancer diagnoses, though researchers continue to assess its potential.
Expert perspectives
Prof Peter Johnson, NHS England's national clinical director for cancer, said detecting abdominal cancers early is "notoriously difficult" because symptoms mimic less serious conditions. Health Secretary Yvette Cooper expressed hope that simple blood tests could identify patients needing urgent investigation sooner. Michelle Mitchell of Cancer Research UK said GPs have long needed better tools to navigate diagnostic uncertainty. Around 71,000 people in England are diagnosed annually with these cancers, and nearly 35,000 die from them.
