New blood test for more than 50 cancers 'could transform outcomes'

A pioneering blood test correctly identified cancer in almost two thirds of cases it highlighted so could lead to earlier diagnosis, a study has found.

The Galleri test, which screens for more than 50 cancers and is being trialled in the NHS, searches for the "fingerprint" of dozens of deadly cancers and can even identify signs before symptoms show. It identifies DNA shed by cancer cells in the bloodstream, giving the earliest signs a patient may have the disease.

More than 23,000 people without symptoms from the US and Canada were analysed and assessed for at least a year as part of the Pathfinder 2 trial. Results showed that of those found to have a "cancer signal" detected in their blood, 61.6% went on to be diagnosed with the disease.

Galleri, developed by US biotechnology firm Grail, is also highly accurate in identifying when the disease is not present, the study found - correctly ruling it out in almost all (99.6%) cases. For those with cancer, it identified which organ or tissue was affected with a 92% success rate, meaning time and money could be saved on further scans and other tests.

The Pathfinder 2 study looked at how the Galleri test may be used in a real-world setting, alongside regular screening programmes for difference cancers such as breast and bowel. Read more on Sky News:'Game-changing' HIV jabBrain cancer drug rejected'Victory' for Andrew's accuser An NHS Galleri trial on how well the test works in screening people without symptoms is expected to be published next year.

Sir Harpal Kumar, Grail's president of international business and biopharma, said the trial results showed Galleri detected "seven times as many cancers as the other screening programmes put together.