Handling Blood Samples In Haematology Laboratory

The Royal Marsden Private Care: Liquid biopsies could prevent unnecessary chemotherapy in colorectal cancer patients

Test tubes in research laboratory

Liquid biopsies allow doctors to tailor cancer treatments and detect relapse in patients before they experience symptoms. At The Royal Marsden, one of Europe’s largest cancer centres, we have the expertise, technology and facilities to deliver a truly personalised care package to our patients. State-of-the-art facilities allow us to combine the most experienced and respected cancer consultants with some of the world’s most innovative technology, ensuring the best possible treatment and care.

Technological advances are currently changing the way we are able to diagnose and treat cancer.

Liquid biopsies, which were pioneered here at The Royal Marsden, provide our clinicians with an innovative new tool that allows them to tailor cancer treatments and detect relapse in patients before they experience symptoms, simply by using a blood test.

Liquid biopsies involve analysing blood samples to detect small fragments of genetic material that tumours release into the bloodstream, known as circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA). A sample can tell us at an earlier stage if a patient is relapsing and can identify genetic mutations that could open up new options for targeted therapy.

Earlier this year, an innovative trial which aims to determine whether patients with colorectal cancer can be spared unnecessary chemotherapy, opened at The Royal Marsden.

Paola Bedoya (healthcare Assistant) With Mock Patient (belinda Lock) In Peter Stebbings Blood Test Unit, Oak Cancer Centre

The study aims improve patient care and quality of life by reducing unnecessary use of chemotherapy and the associated side effects.

The ‘Tracking mutations in cell free DNA to predict Relapse in eArly Colorectal Cancer’ (TRACC) Part C study aims to evaluate the opportunity to improve patient care and quality of life by reducing unnecessary use of chemotherapy and the associated side effects. This could spare patients from toxicity and has potential for huge cost savings for the NHS.

The study evaluates the use of circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) to guide chemotherapy treatment decisions after surgery in patients with early-stage colorectal cancer.

The blood test used in the study can detect microscopic molecular residual disease by measuring the DNA shed from tumour cells into the bloodstream. If ctDNA is not detected in a blood test following surgery, the patient’s treatment is de-escalated. De-escalated treatment may be chemotherapy in tablet form, which has fewer side effects than conventional chemotherapy, or no chemotherapy at all.