A new ‘liquid biopsy test’ called the Marsden360 – developed by The Royal Marsden and Guardant Health – has already enabled over 2,000 patients with suspected advanced lung cancer to have a ctDNA blood test before or at the same time that diagnostic biopsies are taken.
NHS England is now rolling out the test to an additional 10,000 patients over the course of the next year, in a bid to speed up treatment decisions.
CtDNA tests, also known as liquid biopsies, are minimally invasive tests that can detect tiny amounts of ctDNA shed by the cancer into the blood.
The test is able to identify key genetic mutations in a patient’s cancer which can potentially enable them to receive targeted treatments rather than standard chemotherapy.
Targeted treatments can significantly improve quality of life for patients, improving survival and reducing side effects.
Analysis of data from Guardant Health’s liquid biopsy testing also shows that time to diagnosis for patients with advanced lung cancer in the UK can be slashed by three weeks.
Based on Guardant Health’s leading and innovative liquid biopsy technology, the Marsden360 service means that tests are analysed onsite in The Royal Marsden’s state-of-the-art liquid biopsy testing facility, which is part of the North Thames Genomic Medicine Service.
The Marsden360 testing facility has capacity to annually test 5,000 patients with solid tumour cancers from across England, with expansion to beyond 10,000 planned over the next two years.
Professor Sanjay Popat, a Consultant Medical Oncologist at The Royal Marsden and an internationally recognised expert in the treatment of lung cancer, said: “CtDNA liquid biopsies have the potential to transform cancer care for patients, from earlier diagnosis to prognosis and better management of treatments.
“It is fantastic that through collaborating with NHS England we can look to bring cutting-edge genomic testing to patients in the NHS, resulting in many patients receiving targeted treatments rather than standard chemotherapy.
“Our Marsden360 service, established in partnership with Guardant Health, also allows us to significantly increase our capacity for research using ctDNA testing, improving treatment options for patients across the UK.”
Clinicians at The Royal Marsden have been using liquid biopsies in a clinical diagnostic setting for several years and the hospital has developed its own testing capabilities.
However, bringing diagnostic testing for liquid biopsies onsite will enable the NHS to increase the volume of tests they are able to deliver.
The Guardant Health partnership also ensures that researchers at The Royal Marsden have access to more powerful technology based upon vast data sets and advanced analytics.
The Marsden360 is performed for stage 3 and 4 solid tumours and delivers complete results for more patients, faster than tissue testing.
Helmy Eltoukhy, Guardant Health chairman and co-CEO, said: “Liquid biopsies aren’t just the future of cancer care – they are already being used in the clinic to guide treatment decisions and match patients to potentially life-saving targeted therapies.
“The new national pilot in England offers the exciting opportunity for this new technology to be integrated into routine lung cancer care so that patients get the benefits of an earlier diagnosis and treatment.
“NHS England and The Royal Marsden have really grasped this opportunity and are leading the world in implementing liquid biopsies – starting with lung cancer – and we are honoured to partner with them in this endeavour.”
The Marsden360 liquid biopsy service, which is part of the North Thames Genomic Medicine Service, is available for private and clinical trial patients being treated at The Royal Marsden, as well as patients with suspected late-stage lung cancer, who are eligible for testing on the NHS as part of the NHS England study in ctDNA testing in non-small cell lung cancer.
Pictured: Marsden360 clinical genomics laboratory
