A quick blood test for smokers could slash death rates from lung cancer, research suggests.
A British study involving 12,200 people found the test detected cancer more than four years before tumours showed up on scans.
The trial, led by scientists at the University of St Andrews, found far more people were diagnosed at an early stage of cancer using the blood test.
A quick blood test for smokers could slash death rates from lung cancer, research suggests
The research – presented at the World Conference on Lung Cancer in Barcelona – found that 41 per cent of patients who received the blood test and then a CT scan were diagnosed at phase one or two, when tumours are still treatable.
For those who only received a CT scan following the arrival of symptoms – as is standard practice on the NHS – 27 per cent were diagnosed at these stages.
Experts say early diagnosis is key to survival – allowing quicker treatment, better outcomes and fewer deaths.
Of the 6,087 people who received the blood test, 17 died within two years. There were 24 deaths among the 6,121 who did not receive the test, which is roughly a 29 per cent difference.
Researchers say these numbers are too small to be certain that it will save lives, but they expect that after a few more years of follow-up they will see bigger numbers and a more significant difference.
Oncimmune, the UK firm behind the test, plans to submit its findings to the UK National Screening Committee.
Eventually, bosses hope their test will form the first NHS lung cancer screening programme, in which anyone who has smoked for more than 20 years will be given the test. At present smokers are usually sent for CT scans if they report symptoms including repetitive coughs.
But if the test is approved everyone over the age of 50 who has smoked 20 cigarettes a day for two decades will be offered a blood test.
The trial, led by scientists at the University of St Andrews, found far more people were diagnosed at an early stage of cancer using the blood test
The researchers believe that in future they will see similar results for other cancer types – including breast, prostate, liver and ovarian cancer.
Study leader Professor Frank Sullivan, of the University of St Andrews, said: ‘These landmark findings are likely to have globally significant implications for the early detection of lung cancer by showing how a simple blood test, followed by CT scans, is able to increase the number of patients diagnosed at an earlier stage of the disease, when surgery is still possible and prospects for survival are much higher.’
The test works by spotting antibodies which are produced as part of the body’s defence against cancer.
For each cancer type the antibodies are slightly different.
For lung cancer, the test picks up seven different antibodies.
The company’s liver test, which spots a different set of antibodies, was launched in May 2018 and tests for bowel, prostate, breast, ovarian and gastric cancer are in trials.
Some 47,000 people are diagnosed with lung cancer in the UK every year, 41,000 of whom are smokers or ex-smokers.
Fewer than 9 per cent of patients survive for five years, and every year 35,000 are killed by the disease.
Geoffrey Hamilton-Fairley, vice chairman and co-founder of Oncimmune, said the results of the trial promised to shake-up the world of cancer testing.
‘This is going to completely revolutionise the diagnosis of cancer,’ he said. ‘Personalised medicine has arrived.’