Reported in the Independent - cvsp15 Jun 2025 11:22
NHS England is set to introduce a pioneering liquid biopsy blood test, offering new hope to lung and breast cancer patients.
The innovative test, a world-first, will analyse tumour DNA fragments circulating in the bloodstream, enabling doctors to prescribe personalised treatments more swiftly. It is expected that 15,000 patients will benefit from the rollout each year.
By identifying specific genetic mutations, the liquid biopsy eliminates the need for traditional tissue biopsies in many cases, reducing wait times and enabling quicker access to targeted therapies.
The test will initially be used for lung cancer patients, but officials have confirmed that it will also be used for breast cancer patients to detect a wider range of genetic variants to see if they are eligible for targeted treatment.
The new NHS rollout could help thousands of cancer patients a year
The new NHS rollout could help thousands of cancer patients a year (Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Following a pilot which involved 10,000 people with non-small cell lung cancer (the most common type), the test is being expanded, with hopes that could be used for other types of cancer in the future.
This marks an exciting breakthrough in cancer research