Breakthrough simple blood test for brain cancer

A QUICK and simple blood test can diagnose the rarest and deadliest form of brain cancer - saving patients from invasive and highly risky surgery, breakthrough research shows.

- Giles Sheldrick

The technique has been developed to spot tumours including glioblastoma (GBM), the type most diagnosed in adults, at the Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence run by scientists at Imperial College London.

Now campaigners are to press for more cash for lifesaving research as they hand a petition to No 10 aides.

Dr Nelofer Syed, who leads the centre, said: "A non-invasive, inexpensive method for the early detection of brain tumours is critical for improvements in patient care.

"There is still some way to go, but this solution could help people where a brain biopsy or surgical resection of the tumour is not possible due to the location of the tumour or other constraints.

"A diagnosis of inaccessible tumours can become possible through a risk-free and patient-friendly blood test. There are currently no non-invasive or non-radiological tests for these types of tumours." The liquid biopsy detects and isolates cells released from the tumour into the blood.

Backing