Could a blood test detect womb cancer coming back?
You may have seen in the news that a new blood test is being developed to help detect when womb cancer has come back after treatment (known as recurrence).
The test, called ECctDNA, looks for tiny fragments of cancer in a person’s blood. This means doctors may be able to identify a recurrence earlier and more easily than with current methods.
At the moment, follow-up care after womb cancer treatment can involve pelvic examinations, scans or biopsies. These can be uncomfortable and, for some people, distressing. This new test could reduce the need for these procedures, making monitoring simpler and less invasive.
The research has been led by Dr Esther Moss, Consultant Gynaecological Oncologist at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust and Associate Professor at the University of Leicester.
In a study involving more than 85 people with womb cancer, the blood test was able to detect possible recurrence and deliver results within 48 hours. This is much quicker and more cost-effective than a biopsy or internal examination. It may also help doctors and researchers understand more about the cancer itself, including genetic changes, which could guide future treatment.
More work is needed before the test can be widely used, and researchers are now carrying out further checks to make sure it is safe and reliable. If successful, it is hoped this new blood test could be introduced across the NHS by 2028.
Developments like this show how research is helping to improve care and follow-up for people affected by womb cancer, with the potential for more personalised and less invasive ways to monitor recurrence.
Find out more:
Watch the news piece on ITV News
Read the announcement from NHS University of Leicester Hospital
