A new test promising to revolutionise the way lung cancer is diagnosed has been rolled out in Wales. The innovative biopsy blood test aims to improve cancer treatment and could help more people in Wales.
Lung cancer is the fourth most common cancer and is the leading cause of cancer deaths in Wales. The new non-invasive liquid biopsy (blood sample) can be offered at an earlier stage in the cancer path way and will help speed up treatments, the Welsh Government has announced.
Made possible through the All-Wales Medical Genomics Service (AWMGS), Illumina technology, Life Sciences Hub Wales, and investment from multiple partner organisations, the new use of the blood test can detect multiple cancer markers without needing an invasive tissue biopsy.
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A cancer patient who was diagnosed with an incurable and inoperable lung cancer had to wait 72 days before receiving a diagnosis. Craig Maxwell, patient representative of the QuicDNA steering group said a test like this will help patients like him get treatment sooner. He said: “Being diagnosed at 40 with incurable and inoperable EGFR lung cancer I have first-hand experience with the cancer diagnostic pathway in Wales. Wales is so lucky to have amazing nurses and doctors who support us through this pathway, we all have a responsibility to make sure they have the best and most up-to-date technology available to them to support the diagnostic pathway. This clinical study is a major step forward in helping cancer patients, like myself.
"From the point of discovering my tumour, it took a stressful and hard 72 days to identify my cancer but this new technology will help support and deliver results quicker, allowing cancer patients to get treatment sooner and help them plan, with their families for the new life that exists in front of them. Let’s make sure all of Wales has access to these new innovative tests, and our amazing nurses and doctors have access to this technology to help them help us.”
This new study of 1,260 patients who are being investigated for suspected stage III and IV lung cancer, will evaluate the benefits of liquid biopsy in people with suspected lung cancer. It will look at how its use earlier in the diagnostic process can improve and speed up diagnosis, reduce the time between diagnosis and treatment, and eventually inform how this technology can be rolled out to people with other types of suspected cancer.
Liquid biopsy as a tool in genomic medicine is expected to become a pivotal part of healthcare and provide a better understanding of illnesses, improve patient outcomes and transform lives. In the future it has the potential to provide a simple, accessible and reliable means of investigating suspected cancer and less invasive monitoring for cancer recurrence.
Testing the use of emerging technologies such as liquid biopsies is one example of how the Welsh Government plans to transform diagnostic services in Wales, as set out in the Diagnostic Strategy for Wales, launched today. This strategy aims to deliver services to reduce waiting times for diagnostic tests, improve patient outcomes, and support the diagnostic workforce across our NHS in Wales.
In Wales, lung cancer is the third most common cancer in women and the fourth most common cancer in men. However, it is the most common cause of cancer death overall. The majority of patients are diagnosed with advanced stage (stage 3 and 4) disease. There is only a 16% one-year survival rate for patients with stage 4 disease.
The Minister for Health and Social Services, Eluned Morgan said: “Wales has been leading the way in how we integrate genomic testing into health services to revolutionise how we deliver healthcare. Liquid biopsies could deliver real benefits for patients in Wales and save lives by helping us detect and treat cancers earlier.
“This is a key example of how working in partnership across a variety of sectors can contribute to improved health outcomes. This is part of our wider work to recover and transform services through the Diagnostic Strategy for Wales.”
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