In England, brain tumour test cuts diagnosis time to two hours — The Guardian

In England, the National Health Service has begun introducing a new genomic test for diagnosing brain tumours, which can provide doctors with information about a neoplasm while the patient is still on the operating table. According to The Guardian, the technology could reduce the wait for a diagnosis from up to eight weeks to two hours.

How the test works

The method was developed by the University of Nottingham’s Centre for Advanced Research into Brain Tumours. The test analyses the genetic code of a tumour sample within several hours.

Small tissue samples from the tumour are sent to a pathology laboratory, where they are placed in a shoebox-sized Oxford Nanopore sequencer. DNA molecules pass through a nanopore — a tiny opening that makes it possible to establish the unique genome used to determine the type of tumour. This makes it possible to obtain detailed information while decisions are being made in the operating room.

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Pilot implementation

NHS England will pilot the technology at five specialist centres: Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, King’s College Hospital and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The test is later planned to be introduced in Bristol, Oxford, Leeds and Manchester as well.

NHS Medical Director Professor Frankie Swords called the test a significant step forward for patients and said it could fundamentally change the approach to diagnosing brain tumours. Stuart Smith, a consultant neurosurgeon at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, said rapid genomic testing would save valuable time for patients. According to the publication, it could also give some patients early access to clinical trials.

Primary brain tumours are the leading cause of death among children and people under 40 in the United Kingdom.