Cancer Research UK has announced that from now it is making hundreds of specialised blood tests available to people affected by cancer across the UK.
As a co-funder of the Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC) network, the charity has issued a grant to the Royal Marsden which is partnering with Guardant Health to provide circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) molecular profiling, using the Guardant360 Liquid assay powered by Infinity. These tests are intended for patients with advanced solid cancers across the ECMC network.
CtDNA blood tests play a key role in precision clinical trials designed to include patients with specific genotypes of tumours. Molecular profiling data and analysis help guide clinical teams when identifying suitable patients to enrol onto specific trials, inform treatment decisions and support the monitoring of how cancer behaves over time and responds to treatment.
Roughly a third of Cancer Research UK’s clinical trial portfolio makes use of molecular profiling data, as do up to 50 per cent of commercial trials, underlining the high demand for ctDNA testing.
This work is designed to further support the delivery of precision medicine trials which are reliant on ctDNA molecular profiling, including those led by Cancer Research UK’s Centre for Drug Development. With an ECMC network-wide requirement for significantly more than 100 tests per month, this increased testing capacity has the potential to benefit a substantial number of patients.
Head of Medical Sciences at Cancer Research UK’s Centre for Drug Development, Dr Sarah Halford, said: “Cancer treatment is becoming increasingly personalised, with advances in technology allowing us to gather and analyse detailed information about a person’s cancer, not just where in the body it originates, to inform their treatment plan. We’re pleased to boost the ctDNA testing capacity across the ECMC through this funding so that more patients can benefit from personalised medicine.”
Royal Marsden already partners with Guardant Health to provide the Marsden360 testing, which provides ctDNA testing for lung and breast cancer patients as part of the North Thames Genomic Medicine Service, as well as private and clinical trial patients being treated at the Royal Marsden.
Dr Angela George, Consultant Medical Oncologist and Clinical Director of Genomics at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, said: “At The Royal Marsden, we are leading the way in the use of genomics and precision medicine to improve cancer care for patients. Our long-term partnership with Guardant Health is a great example of collaboration, helping to achieve our ambitions for genomics innovation in the UK.
“This initiative will help expand access to ctDNA testing, enabling clinicians to obtain detailed molecular information about a patient’s cancer from a simple blood test. By increasing access to this testing across the ECMC network, we hope more patients will be matched to suitable clinical trials and personalised treatment options, helping bring innovative therapies to more patients faster.”
Helmy Eltoukhy, Guardant Health chairman and co-CEO said: “Our partnership with The Royal Marsden is showing how liquid biopsies can change lives, by helping thousands of cancer patients across the NHS get to the right treatment weeks faster. We are proud to expand this testing capacity to help more patients get access to precision testing that can give them more time and optimise treatment.”
This initiative will also serve as a proof of concept for developing the next generation of genomic testing in the UK, in line with the National Cancer Plan for England.
Pictured: Dr Sarah Halford. Credit: Cancer Research UK
