A new blood test for bowel cancer has been developed which could save thousands of lives by spotting the disease at the earliest possible opportunity and the simple check will pick up on antibodies in the blood, produced as the body reacts to the onset of bowel cancer.

The identification of these very specific biomarkers will allow for a test which is more sensitive and accurate than existing screening. This means it will not only save lives, through earlier, more reliable and faster diagnosis, but because it is a simple blood test, it is hoped it will encourage more people to come forward for bowel cancer screening.

Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK, with almost 40,000 people diagnosed each year. The UK NHS Bowel Screening Program has been rolled out to check those between the ages of 60–69, (up to 74 in England) thought to be at high risk. This screening involves testing traces of blood found in stool samples. Drawbacks associated with this method, known as Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBt), include low sensitivity, which means early stage disease is not detected in a rapid or reliable way. In addition, the nature of the sample required for these tests has resulted in worryingly low levels of patient uptake. The new blood test will do away with the need for FOBt and will prevent unnecessary and costly colonoscopies for people without the disease.

Collaboration between the UK biotech firm Randox Laboratories Ltd., (Crumlin, UK) and Biomedical Diagnostics Institute (BDI; Dublin City University, Ireland) promises that the new test will be a significant breakthrough in the diagnosis of bowel cancer and could be available for widespread use by the end of next year. The new test will be implemented on Randox's proprietary Biochip Array Technology detection platform.

Conor Burke, PhD, Associate Director of the BDI commented, “This project is an excellent example of the translational research agenda of the BDI and its commitment to the realization of commercial and societal impact through innovation in diagnostics. One of our primary goals is the creation of value for indigenous Irish diagnostics companies through our research and we look forward to working with Randox on realizing the significant commercial and healthcare-related potential of this screening test.”

Related Links:
Randox Laboratories Ltd. 
Biomedical Diagnostics Institute