UK NHS launches trial to test blood tests for 13 cancers
The STRIDE-RCT study will involve more than 20,000 patients across 200 GP practices in England to detect early cancer signals.
The UK's National Health Service (NHS) has started a large trial to determine if simple blood tests can help doctors identify 13 types of cancer earlier, according to a report by Times Now.
The study, named STRIDE-RCT, is being led by the University of Birmingham and will take place across more than 200 GP practices in England.
More than 20,000 patients experiencing symptoms such as constant bloating or abdominal discomfort are being invited to participate in the trial.
The tests look for either tiny pieces of DNA released by tumours into the bloodstream or proteins linked to the body's response to cancer.
The 13 cancers being tested include bowel, small bowel, stomach, oesophageal, pancreatic, liver, bile duct, gallbladder, ovarian, endometrial, kidney, bladder, and prostate cancer.
Professor Peter Johnson, NHS national clinical director for cancer, said detecting abdomen cancer early is difficult because symptoms can be mistaken for less serious conditions.
Health Secretary Yvette Cooper stated that the world-first trial will establish if blood tests can help GPs identify patients needing urgent support sooner.