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The NHS Genomic Medicine Service is looking to understand how new types of testing – known as liquid biopsy tests – could speed up the time taken to obtain genomic results and reduce the need for invasive biopsies in some cases.
Currently genomic testing is done by taking a sample from the tumour, known as a biopsy, and testing the genetic code (DNA) of that sample. A biopsy is important to diagnose cancer and often a number of tests need to be done on this sample. Sometimes there isn’t enough sample left for genomic testing or the results can take several weeks to be returned by the time the sample has reached the genomic lab and been processed.
Liquid biopsy testing is a technique that allows genetic testing for cancer to take place via blood test. Cancers often release fragments of their DNA into the bloodstream (known as circulating tumour DNA). This new liquid biopsy technology can identify tumour DNA from the blood sample, meaning genomic results can be available much more quickly.
As the team collect all the information needed to apply to the NHS for testing more cancer types, we want to keep patient voices at the heart of those applications.
How can you get involved?
If you were to be offered this new type of genomic test as part of your diagnosis or treatment journey, what information would you like to have about the test? Add your thoughts to the ideas board below.
We would like to hold online workshops for people with lived experience of specific cancer types to discuss this work. We hope to hold a workshop in July on Hepato-pancreato-biliary cancer and one in August on germ cell tumours. Please email [email protected] if you would like to join one of these workshops.
The NHS Genomic Medicine Service is looking to understand how new types of testing – known as liquid biopsy tests – could speed up the time taken to obtain genomic results and reduce the need for invasive biopsies in some cases.
Currently genomic testing is done by taking a sample from the tumour, known as a biopsy, and testing the genetic code (DNA) of that sample. A biopsy is important to diagnose cancer and often a number of tests need to be done on this sample. Sometimes there isn’t enough sample left for genomic testing or the results can take several weeks to be returned by the time the sample has reached the genomic lab and been processed.
Liquid biopsy testing is a technique that allows genetic testing for cancer to take place via blood test. Cancers often release fragments of their DNA into the bloodstream (known as circulating tumour DNA). This new liquid biopsy technology can identify tumour DNA from the blood sample, meaning genomic results can be available much more quickly.
As the team collect all the information needed to apply to the NHS for testing more cancer types, we want to keep patient voices at the heart of those applications.
How can you get involved?
If you were to be offered this new type of genomic test as part of your diagnosis or treatment journey, what information would you like to have about the test? Add your thoughts to the ideas board below.
We would like to hold online workshops for people with lived experience of specific cancer types to discuss this work. We hope to hold a workshop in July on Hepato-pancreato-biliary cancer and one in August on germ cell tumours. Please email [email protected] if you would like to join one of these workshops.
What is genomics and what is genomics testing used for in cancer care?
Genomics is the study of the genes in our DNA, their functions and their influence on the growth, development and working of the body.
Genomic testing is currently used in cancer care to identify any genetic changes that may be driving a person’s cancer, helping doctors understand a person’s specific cancer more clearly. This information can be used to guide more personalised treatment, identify targeted therapies, and in some cases highlight inherited risks so families can access earlier screening or prevention where applicable.
