Hundreds of cancer patients to benefit from improved access to genetic testing

Cancer Research UK has announced from today that it is making hundreds of specialised blood tests available to people affected by cancer across the UK.  

As a co-funder of the Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC) network, the charity has issued a grant to the Royal Marsden who are partnering with Guardant Health to provide circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) molecular profiling, using the Guardant360 Liquid assay powered by Infinity. These tests are intended for patients with advanced solid cancers across the ECMC network.  

CtDNA blood tests play a key role in precision clinical trials designed to include patients with specific genotypes of tumours. Molecular profiling data and analysis help guide clinical teams when identifying suitable patients to enrol onto specific trials, inform treatment decisions and support the monitoring of how cancer behaves over time and responds to treatment. 

Roughly a third of Cancer Research UK’s clinical trial portfolio makes use of molecular profiling data, as do up to 50% of commercial trials, underlining the high demand for ctDNA testing. 

This work is designed to further support the delivery of precision medicine trials which are reliant on ctDNA molecular profiling, including those led by Cancer Research UK’s Centre for Drug Development. With an ECMC network-wide requirement for significantly more than 100 tests per month, this increased testing capacity has the potential to benefit a substantial number of patients. 

Head of Medical Sciences at Cancer Research UK’s Centre for Drug Development, Dr Sarah Halford, said: 

“Cancer treatment is becoming increasingly personalised, with advances in technology allowing us to gather and analyse detailed information about a person’s cancer, not just where in the body it originates, to inform their treatment plan. We’re pleased to boost the ctDNA testing capacity across the ECMC through this funding so that more patients can benefit from personalised medicine.”  

Royal Marsden already partners with Guardant Health to provide the Marsden360 testing, which provides ctDNA testing for lung and breast cancer patients as part of the North Thames Genomic Medicine Service, as well as private and clinical trial patients being treated at the Royal Marsden. 

Dr Angela George, Consultant Medical Oncologist and Clinical Director of Genomics  at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, said: 

“At The Royal Marsden, we are leading the way in the use of genomics and precision medicine to improve cancer care for patients.  Our long-term partnership with Guardant Health is a great example of collaboration, helping to achieve our ambitions for genomics innovation in the UK.   

“This initiative will help expand access to ctDNA testing, enabling clinicians to obtain detailed molecular information about a patient’s cancer from a simple blood test. By increasing access to this testing across the ECMC network, we hope more patients will be matched to suitable clinical trials and personalised treatment options, helping bring innovative therapies to more patients faster.” 

Helmy Eltoukhy, Guardant Health chairman and co-CEO said: 

“Our partnership with The Royal Marsden is showing how liquid biopsies can change lives, by helping thousands of cancer patients across the NHS get to the right treatment weeks faster. We are proud to expand this testing capacity to help more patients get access to precision testing that can give them more time and optimise treatment.“ 

This initiative will also serve as a proof of concept for developing the next generation of genomic testing in the UK, in line with the National Cancer Plan for England. 

ENDS   

Sarah Halford and other Cancer Research UK spokespeople are available for interview. For media enquiries, contact Fiona Scott in the Cancer Research UK press office on [email protected]/020 3469 5128 or, out of hours, on 020 3469 8301.   

• Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading cancer charity dedicated to saving lives through research, influence and information.   
• Cancer Research UK’s pioneering work into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer has helped save millions of lives.    
• Cancer Research UK has been at the heart of the progress that has already seen survival in the UK double in the last 50 years.    
• Cancer Research UK supports research into the prevention and treatment of cancer through the work of over 4,000 scientists, doctors and nurses.   
• Together with its partners and supporters, Cancer Research UK is working towards a world where people can live longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.    

 For further information about Cancer Research UK's work or to find out how to support the charity, please call 0300 123 1022 or visit www.cancerresearchuk.org. Follow us on X and Facebook  

The Royal Marsden opened in 1851 as the world’s first hospital dedicated to cancer diagnosis, treatment, research and education. Today it operates as a specialist cancer centre and is ranked in the top 10 specialised hospitals in the world.   

The Trust was delighted to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales as Joint Patron with His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, in January 2025.     

Together with its principal academic partner, The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), London, The Royal Marsden is designated as the UK’s only National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) dedicated solely to cancer.     

The Royal Marsden and the ICR are recognised as one of the top four comprehensive cancer centres in the world for the impact of their research, influencing cancer treatment and care for cancer patients globally. 

As a centre of excellence, we pioneer the very latest in cancer treatments and technologies, as well as leading the way in innovative cancer diagnosis and education. 

This year marks 175 years of The Royal Marsden. Since 1851, it has led the way in cancer research, education and treatment, building a legacy of innovation, compassion and putting patients first. This work has been made possible by the clinicians, nurses, researchers and support staff, alongside remarkable donors whose belief in the development of better treatments has driven this innovation throughout the last 175 years. The support of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity remains at the heart of the hospital’s breakthroughs, helping to save the lives of cancer patients around the world.  

Guardant Health is a leading precision oncology company focused on guarding wellness and giving every person more time free from cancer. Founded in 2012, Guardant is transforming patient care and accelerating new cancer therapies by providing critical insights into what drives disease through its advanced blood and tissue tests, real-world data and AI analytics. Guardant tests help improve outcomes across all stages of care, including screening to find cancer early, monitoring for recurrence in early-stage cancer, and treatment selection for patients with advanced cancer. For more information, visit guardanthealth.com and follow the company on LinkedIn, X (Twitter) and Facebook. 

The ECMC network is an initiative funded in partnership by Cancer Research UK, the Little Princess Trust and the UK health departments of England (National Institute for Health Research), Scotland (Chief Scientist Office), Northern Ireland (Health and Social Care R&D) and Wales (Health and Care Research). Launched in 2007 with a total investment by the funders of over £150 million, this infrastructure award supports a network of 17 adult and 12 paediatric clinical centres throughout the UK.