Pioneering Blood Test Could Spare Women Painful Womb Cancer Checks, Say Leicester Researchers
Researchers at the University of Leicester and University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust have developed a pioneering blood test that could transform the way womb cancer is detected, potentially sparing thousands of women from invasive and painful diagnostic procedures.
The ECctDNA test, announced on 8 April, works by identifying fragments of cancer cells — known as circulating tumour DNA — in a patient's blood. It can deliver results within 48 hours, making it significantly faster and less traumatic than existing diagnostic methods such as physical examinations, biopsies, and internal scans.
The Patients Behind the Research
Two women who participated in the study have spoken movingly about what the new test could mean for patients. Gillian Stacey, 80, was diagnosed with womb cancer 11 years ago and survived a six-month prognosis before later battling a recurrence in her lungs. She described her past medical examinations as "incredibly invasive" and said that "an easier and less traumatic way to diagnose this type of cancer would be a wonderful thing."
Pippa Clarkson, 65, who underwent a full hysterectomy nine years ago, echoed those sentiments. She found the procedures for diagnosis and biopsies to be "incredibly invasive" and said that if the new blood test means women "don't have to go through that again, it's all worth it."
How the Test Works
The ECctDNA test was developed over eight years and involved a study recruiting more than 85 women with endometrial cancer. It not only detects whether cancer has recurred but can also provide information about the genetic changes driving the cancer, helping to guide future treatment decisions. Endometrial cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women in the UK, with approximately 9,800 diagnoses annually.
Dr Esther Moss, Consultant Gynaecological Oncologist at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, said the test can diagnose recurrence more quickly and provide crucial information about the genetic changes driving the cancer, which can help guide future treatment.
Road to NHS Implementation
The research team is currently working on the further validation and quality control necessary for the test's integration into NHS hospitals. The ECctDNA test is expected to become common practice in NHS hospitals by 2028, subject to regulatory approval and further clinical trials.
Funding for the research was provided by the Medical Research Council, Hope Against Cancer, and the National Institute for Health and Care Research Leicester Biomedical Research Centre. The results have been published in the journal Precision Medicine.
What's Next
Researchers at Leicester are also developing a separate blood test for uterine sarcoma, a rarer form of womb cancer that is frequently misdiagnosed. Read more at the University of Leicester.
