NORTH Cumbria is to be among eight areas in the country to take part in the world’s largest trial of a revolutionary new blood test that can detect more than 50 types of cancer before symptoms appear.

Along with people in the North East, people from north Cumbria will be among the first to have blood samples taken at mobile testing clinics in retail parks and other community locations.

The potentially lifesaving Galleri™ test checks for the earliest signs of cancer in the blood and the NHS-Galleri trial.

It is the first trial of its kind, and aims to recruit 140,000 volunteers nationally, including thousands in North East and North Cumbria.

The Northern Cancer Alliance is helping to ensure that volunteers who test positive across the region are appropriately investigated and receive the best possible care within the NHS.

Dr Katie Elliott, Clinical Director (primary care) for the Northern Cancer Alliance, said: “Detecting cancer early will be key to improving cancer outcomes in North East and North Cumbria which is why we’re supporting the NHS-Galleri study.

"Taking part is easy so we ask people to look out for their invitation in the post and consider registering to give a simple blood sample at mobile clinics that will be located in towns and cities around this region over the next few months.”

All participants will be advised to continue with their standard NHS screening appointments and to still contact their GP if they notice any new or unusual symptoms.

Initial results of the study are expected by 2023 and, if successful, NHS England plans to extend the rollout to a further one million people in 2024 and 2025.

Dr Jonathan Slade, Acting Medical Director (System Improvement and Professional Standards) for the North East and Yorkshire, said: “The Galleri blood test, if shown to be successful, could play a major part in achieving the North East and Yorkshire Region’s contribution to catching three-quarters of cancers at an early stage, as set out in the NHS Long Term Plan.

“These quick and simple blood tests could change how we detect and treat cancers more successfully in our region, so if you are invited, please take part.

"You could be helping us to make a step-change in how we deliver cancer care for our local population in the future, whilst also protecting yourself from this significant and serious disease.”

The test is a simple blood test that research has shown is particularly effective at finding cancers that are difficult to identify early – such as head and neck, bowel, lung, pancreatic, and throat cancers.

It works by finding chemical changes in fragments of genetic code – cell-free DNA (cfDNA) – that leak from tumours into the bloodstream.

The NHS will be sending out thousands of letters inviting local people from different background and ethnicities aged between 50 and 77 to take part.

Participants, who must not have had a cancer diagnosis in the last three years, will be asked to give a blood sample at a locally based mobile clinic and they will then be invited back after 12 months, and again at two years, to give further blood samples.

The NHS-Galleri trial is being run by The Cancer Research UK and King’s College London Cancer Prevention Trials Unit in partnership with the NHS and healthcare company, GRAIL, which has developed the Galleri test.

Prof Peter Sasieni is Director of The Cancer Research UK & King’s College London Cancer Prevention Trials Unit and one of the trial’s lead investigators.

He said: “Joining the trial is easy, and we are particularly keen to attract volunteers from diverse communities in North East and North Cumbria to ensure the results are relevant for as many different people as possible.”

People will only know they’re in the test group if they are among the small minority whose test detects potential signals of cancer in their blood. These people will be contacted by the trial nurse by phone and referred to an NHS hospital for further tests.

 

The trial is the latest initiative launched by the NHS to meet its Long Term Plan commitment of finding three-quarters of cancers at an early stage by 2028.

 

Patients whose condition is diagnosed at ‘stage one’ typically have between five and 10 times the chance of surviving compared with those found at ‘stage four’.