Major new NHS trial to investigate blood tests that could help detect ovarian cancer earlier
A new world-first government-funded trial has been announced, offering new blood tests to help detect hard-to-diagnose abdominal cancers earlier.
The trial, called STRIDE-RCT and led by the University of Birmingham, will use new blood tests to look for signs of cancers including ovarian, bowel, small bowel, stomach, oesophageal, pancreatic, liver, bile duct and gallbladder, endometrial, kidney, bladder and prostate cancer.
The trial will involve over 20,000 patients aged 45 and over in at least 200 GP surgeries across a range of inner-city, rural, seaside and deprived communities in England. The tests will be offered to people experiencing abdominal symptoms such as pain or persistent bloating and will be compared to currently available tests and the GP's judgement.
The aim is to detect early markers of cancer in the blood, before more severe symptoms develop. Using different technologies, including detecting DNA shed by tumours, measuring proteins in the blood, and artificial intelligence, the blood samples will be analysed to predict whether a cancer is likely. A negative result will not be an all clear, and a positive result will not confirm cancer: instead, the information will help GPs to decide whether an urgent referral is needed.
We know that the stage of diagnosis makes a significant difference in ovarian cancer: A woman has a 95% chance of survival when diagnosed early, more than double the average ovarian cancer survival rate. Unfortunately, only around one third of women have their ovarian cancer caught at stage 1-2.
While multi cancer early detection tests (MCEDs) offer exciting potential, there is still much to learn about their ability to detect ovarian cancer early. Recent results from the NHS Galleri trial highlight these challenges with the test failing to significantly reduce the number of cancers diagnosed at staged III and IV in ovarian cancer.
This study will investigate whether this type of blood test can help GPs identify cancer sooner in people who are already experiencing symptoms. It’s an important step, but ultimately we need effective early detection tests that will find cancer before symptoms develop and improve survival for women with ovarian cancer.
“Bloating and abdominal pain are common symptoms of ovarian cancer but too often are misdiagnosed for other less serious conditions. We welcome the news of this new trial as we urgently need better ways to detect cancer faster: Around 40% of women in England have had an emergency admission in the weeks before they’re diagnosed, meaning far too many are reaching crisis point before their cancer is identified.
This research will help understand if these tests can help women and their doctors get answers faster. However, we still need investment and focus on developing tests that can find ovarian cancer before symptoms appear. That continues to be the holy grail to transform survival rates.”
