NHS trials AI blood test to reduce invasive cancer exams for women
13 reported
A new AI-powered blood test being trialled by the NHS could spare thousands of women from undergoing a painful diagnostic procedure for suspected womb cancer. The PinPoint blood test, developed by Leeds-based firm PinPoint Data Science, uses machine learning to analyze 30 blood markers and assess cancer risk. In a trial involving 16,481 patients referred by 170 GP practices in Yorkshire for nine forms of cancer, the test showed a 99% accuracy rate in detecting and ruling out gynaecological cancers. The findings have prompted Mid Yorkshire NHS teaching trust and Leeds teaching hospitals NHS trust to plan to start using the test for certain cancers. Around 90,000 postmenopausal women in England are referred annually for possible womb cancer due to heavy bleeding, and about 10,000 are diagnosed with the disease each year. The test could save one in five of those women — 18,000 a year — from needing a transvaginal ultrasound scan, which many find uncomfortable or painful. Cancer Research UK called the test “promising” but said more research is needed.
What’s reported
The PinPoint blood test is being introduced by several NHS hospitals after a trial involving 16,481 patients.
The trial included 3,313 women referred because of bleeding that raised concern for womb cancer.
The test had a 99% accuracy rate in detecting and ruling out gynaecological cancers among those women.
About one in ten of the 90,000 women referred for heavy bleeding turned out to have cancer.
The test could save 18,000 women a year from needing a transvaginal ultrasound scan.
Mid Yorkshire NHS teaching trust plans to use the test for six types of gynaecological or upper gastrointestinal cancer.
Leeds teaching hospitals NHS trust will use it for gynaecological cancer.
The test was developed by PinPoint Data Science, which specializes in statistical analysis of medical data.
Prof Sean Duffy, the firm’s chief medical officer and former NHS England national clinical director for cancer, called the test’s accuracy “remarkable.”
Dr Jacinta Walsh, a GP in Normanton, West Yorkshire, said the test could shortcut the diagnostic process.
Brent Kilmurray, chief executive of Mid Yorkshire trust, said there is an “especially compelling” case for using the test.
Tracy Jackson, a consultant gynaecologist at Leeds trust, said the test allows more intelligent triage.
Cancer Research UK spokesperson Samantha Harrison said the test appears “promising” but more research is needed.
Key figures
Prof Sean Duffy, chief medical officer of PinPoint Data Science, former NHS England national clinical director for cancer
Dr Jacinta Walsh, GP at King’s Medical Practice in Normanton, West Yorkshire
Brent Kilmurray, chief executive of Mid Yorkshire NHS teaching trust
Tracy Jackson, consultant gynaecologist and cancer unit lead at Leeds teaching hospitals NHS trust
Samantha Harrison, spokesperson for Cancer Research UK
Sources: The Guardian
