Trial of multi-cancer blood test among 142,000 NHS patients fails to meet main aim
Get the Health newsletter
Daily health & science — research, biotech, public health, the studies worth knowing. Free.
- GALLERI test evaluated in a randomised controlled trial of 142,942 NHS patients aged 50‑77, with annual blood draws for three years.
- TRIAL primary endpoint—reducing stage 3/4 diagnoses for a pre‑specified group of 12 cancers—was not met; there was no statistically significant drop in late‑stage cancers versus standard screening.
- GRAIL highlighted a 14 % drop in stage 4 cancer diagnoses in the trial, suggesting earlier detection of the deadliest tumors.
- DR. JULIE GRALOW (ASCO chief medical officer) said the study showed encouraging down‑staging trends but failed to achieve the predefined statistical reduction in late‑stage disease.
Why it matters: NHS and patients lose a hoped‑for earlier detection tool; Grail loses credibility and potential market uptake; the result dampens investment in multi‑cancer blood tests across the healthcare sector.
