NHS England: NHS first in world to roll out ‘revolutionary’ blood test for cancer patients

London, May 30, 2025 – A groundbreaking advance in cancer diagnostics in the UK, centred on the revolutionary “liquid biopsy” blood test, will transform treatment pathways across the National Health Service (NHS). This pioneering technology, currently leveraging circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA), is being rolled out by the NHS, marking a significant stride towards more personalised and efficient cancer care.

The NHS is the first health service globally to adopt a “blood test-first” approach for diagnosing suspected lung cancer, with plans to expand its application to advanced breast cancer. This innovative test works by detecting minute fragments of tumour DNA circulating in the bloodstream, offering an ultra-sensitive and rapid method for identifying genetic mutations. This capability enables clinicians to swiftly determine the most effective targeted therapies, potentially allowing thousands of patients to avoid the arduous process of traditional tissue biopsies and the debilitating side effects of chemotherapy.

This cutting-edge liquid biopsy technology, specifically its ctDNA component, not only promises kinder, more precise care but also substantial economic benefits, with potential savings of up to £11 million annually in lung cancer care for the NHS. While ctDNA is currently paving the way in clinical adoption, circulating tumour cells (CTCs) represent another vital and complementary component of liquid biopsy. As the field evolves, the ability to analyse both ctDNA and CTCs offers increasingly comprehensive insights into a patient’s disease, promising even more precise monitoring and treatment stratification in the future setting a new global standard in cancer diagnostics and treatment.