QuicDNA

Integration of liquid biopsy into lung cancer diagnostic pathway.

Lung Cancer is the third most common cancer in Wales and the majority of patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage. In the current diagnostic pathway, a patient, who is referred to the Rapid Access Lung Clinic by their GP for suspicion of lung cancer from a CT scan, undergoes a biopsy for the collection of a small sample of tissue that is tested in a NHS laboratory. The results of the tissue biopsy are reviewed by clinicians for planning the patient’s treatment. In some cases, it can take up to 8 weeks or even longer for the patient to receive their targeted therapy after their GP referral. There is a critical need to improve and shorten the current diagnostic pathway so that patients at an advanced stage of lung cancer can start their treatment before their cancer grows further.

When cancer cells die, they get broken down and their contents, including small pieces of DNA, are released into the blood. This is called circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA). Researchers have developed a new test that looks for ctDNA in the blood and detects the multiple genetic changes leading to tumour development. Finding DNA with genetic differences aids in diagnosing the type of tumour and helps doctors determine which treatment will be most effective.

The results of the ctDNA testing are available in a timely manner. Moreover, taking a blood sample – “liquid biopsy”– is less invasive than a solid tissue biopsy that for some patients is difficult or impossible.

In the QuicDNA study, we propose to introduce the ctDNA testing to patients with high clinical cancer suspicion with the aim to improve the current lung cancer diagnostic pathway by shortening the timelines between GP referral and treatment allocation and helping clinicians in planning patients’ personalised treatments without delay.