Clinical trial of blood test which could spot cancer is rolled out across Hampshire
The clinical trial is currently being tested on over a thousand people
A Southampton-led clinical trial of a blood test which could potentially spot early signs of cancer is being rolled out across Hampshire.
The test aims to identify multiple cancers in their very early stages.
The study is examining technology that isn't currently being used in any other multi-cancer detection tests under investigation.
Dr Victoria Goss, Dr Victoria Goss, Associate Professor of Early Diagnosis and Translational Research, said: "The blood test works by thinking about the body's early response to a tumour being present.
"It's looking at how the immune system might respond to cancer being present, and it's looking for those biomarkers, which are like clues in the blood, to tell us whether or not that patient might have cancer.
"Early diagnosis of cancer is so important because we know that there's a really clear link with longer survival.
"That's why we're so excited to be running this study and other research projects like this, which might lead to new tests being available for patients so that more cancers can be diagnosed at an earlier stage."
The trial will see samples taken from 1000 patients with newly diagnosed cancer who are currently being treated on the NHS.
As well as this, 350 control samples from patients with similar symptoms that are not cancer and healthy volunteers will take part.
The 'MODERNISED' study is currently running at five hospital sites in Hampshire and Dorset, and is soon to open in Manchester.