Trial for new test to detect early signs of cancer reaches milestone
The trial, known as the MODERNISED study, has now recruited more than 450 patients to examine a new blood test that aims to identify ten different types of cancer in their early stages.
The test, not used in any other multi-cancer detection trials, looks for blood signals that indicate an immune response to developing cancer.
It is also being evaluated to see if it can identify the type of cancer.
Ian Robinson taking part in MODERNISED at UHS (Image: Southampton Clinical Trials Unit) The study is recruiting patients from five hospitals across the country, including University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust and Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
It is led by researchers from Southampton.
Ian Robinson, a 72-year-old grandfather of five, participated in the trial after being diagnosed with colorectal cancer.
He said: "There were no symptoms, no pain, nothing, so you would never know until it was much more advanced and therefore much more difficult to treat."
Ian was invited to take part in the MODERNISED study, where a blood sample is taken.
He added: "I'm delighted to participate and hopefully help improve the way things are done."
Dr Victoria Goss (Image: Southampton Clinical Trials Unit) Around 385,000 new cancer cases are diagnosed every year in the UK, but some cancers are hard to detect in the early stages.
Dr Victoria Goss, associate professor and head of early diagnosis research at the Southampton Clinical Trials Unit, said: "Detecting cancer early means that treatment can begin sooner, increasing the chances of successful outcomes for patients."
The MODERNISED study is being led by Professor Andy Davies, director of the Southampton Cancer Research UK and National Institute for Health and Care Research Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre.
Professor Davies said: "Most current research into multi-cancer blood tests is focussed on detecting abnormal DNA that has been released into the blood stream by cancer cells.
"We are instead looking at levels of certain proteins found in blood."
The trial will see samples taken from 1,000 patients with newly diagnosed cancer, as well as 350 control samples from patients with similar symptoms that are not cancer and also healthy volunteers.
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