Blood Test Detects 50+ Cancers Early in Major Trial

A groundbreaking blood test that can detect more than 50 types of cancer has shown remarkable promise in early diagnosis, according to results from a large trial in North America.

The test, known as Galleri, is designed to identify tiny fragments of cancer DNA that break away from tumours and circulate in the blood. Developed by US-based company Grail, it could mark a major step forward in cancer detection and is already being trialled by the NHS.

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In the year-long study, 25,000 adults from the United States and Canada were monitored. Nearly one in every 100 participants received a positive test result, and cancer was later confirmed in around 62% of those cases. Impressively, the test ruled out cancer correctly in over 99% of participants who tested negative.

What makes the results stand out is the test’s ability to catch cancers that currently have no national screening programme — including ovarian, liver, stomach, bladder and pancreatic cancers. These conditions are often discovered late, when treatment options are limited.

More than half of the cancers detected were at an early stage, where treatment is typically more successful and survival rates are higher. When combined with traditional screening methods for breast, bowel and cervical cancers, overall detection rates increased seven-fold.

The test also correctly identified the origin of the cancer in nine out of ten cases, helping doctors determine where in the body the disease began — a crucial factor for treatment planning.

While experts agree the findings are encouraging, full results are still being reviewed. The NHS is conducting a three-year trial involving 140,000 participants, with results expected next year. If successful, the test could be rolled out to over one million people across England, offering hope for earlier and more effective cancer diagnosis.

The study’s findings will be presented this weekend at the European Society for Medical Oncology congress in Berlin, marking a potential turning point in how cancer is detected and treated in the years ahead.