A revolutionary blood test capable of detecting over 50 types of cancer at an early stage has achieved promising results in clinical trials, raising hopes for a major advance in cancer screening across the NHS.
Known as the Galleri test, the tool identifies fragments of tumour DNA circulating in the bloodstream, allowing doctors to detect cancer even before symptoms emerge.
Data from a major United States trial, Pathfinder 2, revealed that 61.6 per cent of participants whose blood showed a “cancer signal” were subsequently confirmed to have the disease.
Crucially, the test correctly pinpointed the affected organ or tissue in 92 per cent of cases — a breakthrough that could streamline diagnosis and accelerate treatment.
Presented this week at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress in Berlin, the findings have been hailed as a significant step toward earlier and more accurate detection.
More than half of the cancers identified by Galleri were found at stages I or II, when treatment outcomes are generally more favourable.
In total, 69.3 per cent were diagnosed between stages I and III. The test also demonstrated exceptional accuracy in ruling out disease, correctly confirming that 99.6 per cent of participants were cancer-free.
Sir Harpal Kumar, president of International Business and BioPharma at Grail, the company behind Galleri and former chief executive of Cancer Research UK, described the findings as “a further step along the way in transforming cancer outcomes.”
The Pathfinder 2 study recruited over 23,000 symptom-free participants across the US and Canada, monitoring them for a year.
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Researchers found that adding Galleri to conventional screening programmes, such as those for breast and bowel cancer, increased cancer detection more than sevenfold.
In the UK, an NHS trial is currently assessing how the test performs in a population without symptoms, with results expected in mid-2026.
Experts say positive findings could pave the way for Galleri to become part of routine screening from age 50 onwards.
Sir Harpal said the ability to locate the cancer’s origin makes diagnosis “very efficient and quick,” particularly for patients presenting with vague symptoms.
He added that such innovation could be especially valuable for cancers lacking standard screening methods, including pancreatic, ovarian, liver, and head and neck cancers.
If approved, the Galleri test could revolutionise NHS screening programmes, offering earlier detection, less invasive diagnosis, and potentially saving thousands of lives each year.
Independent
