Key points from article :
A blood test, named the Galleri test, that detects more than 50 types of cancer has shown promise in a major trial conducted by the National Health Service (NHS) in England and Wales.
Among 5,000 participants who exhibited suspected cancer symptoms, the test identified two out of three cancers accurately.
In 85% of positive cases, the test also identified the original cancer site.
The study, the largest of its kind, reported more than 350 participants later diagnosed with cancer using traditional methods; 75% of these had tested positive in the blood test.
Developed by Grail, a Californian company, the test is separately being trialled to detect hidden cancers, in people without symptoms, and is particularly effective at detecting hard-to-spot cancers such as head and neck, bowel, lung, pancreatic, and throat cancers.
Although it is not accurate enough to conclusively confirm or rule out cancer, lead researcher Prof Mark Middleton asserts the test can guide clinicians on which follow-up tests to conduct for a more accurate diagnosis.
Research by Oxford University published in The Lancet Oncology.
