NHS launches major trial of blood tests designed to find cancer sooner

More than 20,000 NHS patients will take part in a trial examining whether blood tests can help GPs identify abdominal cancers at an earlier stage.

The STRIDE-RCT study will operate through at least 200 GP practices across England. Patients aged 45 and over who attend a participating surgery with symptoms such as persistent bloating or abdominal discomfort may be invited to join. This is a research trial rather than a new routine screening programme.

Researchers will assess tests designed to detect signals associated with 13 cancers, including bowel, pancreatic, ovarian, stomach, liver, kidney, bladder and prostate cancer. Some analyse proteins in the blood, while others use technologies including artificial intelligence to look for signs of disease and indicate where in the body they may have originated.

Most participants will provide one or two tubes of blood alongside their routine GP blood tests. A positive result would not confirm that someone has cancer, but it could help the GP decide whether an urgent referral and further investigations are needed.

Abdominal cancers can be difficult to identify because early symptoms are often vague and may have many less serious causes. The trial will establish whether the tests improve decisions made alongside a GP’s clinical judgement before any wider NHS rollout is considered. The Government is providing up to £8.49 million towards the research, which is being led by the University of Birmingham.

People experiencing persistent or unusual symptoms should continue to contact their GP rather than wait for these tests to become available.

This article provides general information and does not replace medical advice.

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