Early Detection of Gynaecological Cancers Using Blood-Based Technology

Gynaecological cancers (such as ovarian and womb cancer) are often diagnosed at a late stage, leading to poor outcomes. This is largely due to the symptoms often being vague (e.g. bloating, abdominal pain, fatigue) and a lack of awareness among health professionals. Compounding this, existing primary care tests are inaccurate and lack specificity for these cancers, while referral pathways are under overwhelming pressure, so cancer treatment targets are missed.

The team propose to develop and evaluate a new type of blood test for gynaecological cancers. Their method, which analyses the "molecular fingerprint" of the blood, has previously proven beneficial in detecting bowel cancer.

This project will use blood samples from patients being investigated for either ovarian or womb cancers to determine the accuracy of the novel blood test. The test could be developed into a valuable tool that GPs could use to identify potential cancer patients sooner for improved cancer outcomes. 

The expectation is that the availability of a simple blood test, as an alternative to current invasive diagnostic tools, would allow for earlier diagnosis of gynaecological cancers, while also encouraging underserved groups to present to their GPs sooner.