A blood test designed to detect more than 50 cancers failed to reach its main target in a large clinical study involving 142,000 NHS patients, according to findings shared at a major international cancer meeting. The trial aimed to determine if adding the Galleri multi-cancer early detection test to routine screening could identify cancers at earlier, more treatable stages. Results presented on Saturday showed the test did not achieve a statistically significant reduction in late-stage diagnoses, the study’s primary endpoint. The randomised controlled trial, the first of its kind for this type of test, was discussed at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting in Chicago. Asco chief medical officer Dr Julie Gralow noted encouraging signs of tumour downstaging but stressed that the trial did not meet its predefined goal of lowering advanced cancers. One senior cancer specialist described the outcome bluntly as a flop. The study included 142,942 participants aged 50 to 77 without symptoms. All gave annual blood samples over three years and underwent standard screenings. Half the group had samples tested with Galleri, while the control group did not. Positive results led to further diagnostic checks. Researchers found no meaningful drop in stage three and four cancers across a group of 12 types when the test was added to usual care. Grail, the company behind the test, highlighted a 14 percent reduction in stage four cancers alone. Experts outside the trial expressed caution, noting the primary endpoint was not met and that broader implementation lacks sufficient evidence until mortality data emerge in coming years. NHS England officials said they would review the full results before considering future use.
