New cancer test could improve detection and save lives

A new bowel cancer blood test is being developed at the University of Essex to improve early detection and save lives.

It is hoped this new minimally-invasive analysis could find the disease whilst it is more treatable.

Doctors currently screen for the disease with a faecal immunochemical test – or poo test – which can be seen as embarrassing and puts them off a trip to the GP.

The new DNA analysis technique based on blood tests aims to increase screening uptake and is being developed in the School of Life Sciences by Dr Vladimir Teif and Dr Ralf Zwacka and their team.

Charity Bowel Cancer UK has awarded them £165,000 to explore this ground-breaking approach.

Dr Teif said: “The award of an early diagnosis project grant by Bowel Cancer UK will enable us to progress our research on liquid biopsies based on cell-free DNA from bodily fluids, with the goal to improve diagnosis at early stages of the disease.”

The test will work by checking blood samples for DNA released from tumours.

This cell-free DNA is harmless, but it offers scientists a valuable way to look for clues about what’s going on in the body.

It builds on their previous research on other cancers with the team developing a computer model to analyse cell-free DNA and make predictions about whether a person has bowel cancer, using blood samples.

The project is one of three chosen for funding by Bowel Cancer UK, which has invested nearly £2.4 million since 2017 into research.

Dr Lisa Wilde, Director of Research, Policy and Influencing at the charity, said: “We’re delighted to be funding these exciting new research projects.

“Through their different approaches, they all have potential to accelerate a stage shift towards earlier diagnosis of bowel cancer and we look forward to following their progress.

“With our new research strategy, we’re continuing to work hard for our vision of a future where nobody dies of bowel cancer. 

“An important part of this is ensuring more people are diagnosed at the earliest stages when the disease is easier to treat, and investing into vital bowel cancer research is one of the best ways to do this.”