ctDNA testing to be offered by the South East Genomic Medicine Service
It’s been announced today that the South East Genomic Medicine Service will be delivering circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) testing from December 1st 2025.
The South East Genomic Medicine Service will become the third centre to provide ctDNA testing for the NHS which is currently available for non-small cell lung cancer and breast cancer. This ‘revolutionary’ blood test was made freely available to all patients that meet the clinical eligibility criteria earlier this year.
The NHS is the first health service in the world to roll-out a ‘blood test-first’ approach to diagnosing suspected lung cancer, with the test being used before traditional tissue biopsies. As a result, patients are able to start treatment for lung cancer up to two weeks earlier.
Patients with advanced breast cancer whose cancer has not responded to previous treatment can also have a ctDNA test to determine if they are eligible for targeted treatments.
The blood test, also called a ‘liquid biopsy’, can detect tiny fragments of circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) and looks for specific genetic variations of cancer, allowing patients to access targeted therapies which are tailored to the genetic profile of their cancer.
This service is centrally funded for all eligible patients with the three centres providing ctDNA testing across all of England. The South East Genomic Medicine ctDNA service will start from December 1st for all NHS Trusts in the South East of England which includes South London, Surrey, Sussex, Kent and Medway.
Charlie was part of the pilot programme which developed the test in the South East. Her lung cancer was diagnosed through a ctDNA test.
“I got the news when I was sitting in the bath on a Friday night. My consultant rang to tell me that the biopsy had failed but that thankfully they had done the new ctDNA test which confirmed that I had lung cancer.”
Scientists can sequence the tumour DNA to determine exactly what type of lung cancer Charlie had. Her results showed that her tumour has a genetic variation in the EGFR gene meaning she was EGFR Positive.
“I was expecting to start chemo, but this news meant I could start a drug straight away which could target my cancer and avoid chemo. This was a game changer for my mental health.”
Read Charlie’s story in full here.
The new ctDNA pathway will start from December 1st for all NHS Trusts based in the South East. Clinicians and healthcare professionals are invited to join one of two educational webinars to explain the new pathway.
Register here
Tues Dec 2nd 12-1pm
Thurs Dec 11th 12-1pm
