Blood Tests Could Reduce Chemotherapy for Cancer Patients

A blood test that can detect traces of cancer cells could spare thousands of patients unnecessary chemotherapy every year. A major bowel cancer trial is examining whether the test can show if surgery has removed all of the tumour. The blood tests work by looking for microscopic traces of cancer in the bloodstream called circulating tumour DNA. The trial will examine any difference in survival rates after three years between those patients whose treatment was guided by the blood test compared with the standard-of-care chemotherapy group. The hope is that this specialised technology could spare many cancer patients unnecessary chemotherapy.