NHS launches Stride-rct trial for early cancer detection

Trial scope and patient eligibility

More than 20,000 NHS patients are expected to participate in the STRIDE-RCT trial. The study is being conducted across at least 200 GP surgeries in England.

Eligible patients will be offered the opportunity to participate during their routine visits.

Technologies and companies involved

Proteotype, Pinpoint AI, Natera, and Mercy BioAnalytics are the four companies participating in the initial phase of the trial. Researchers at the University of Birmingham developed the blood tests, which use artificial intelligence and protein measurement to identify early cancer markers from a single sample.

Proteotype’s Enlighten test uses AI to examine patterns of circulating amino acid biomarkers in plasma to identify potential breast, bowel, lung, or prostate cancer. PinPoint AI’s test analyzes 32 biomarkers simultaneously to assess risk for bowel, ovarian, lung, pancreatic, liver, bile duct, and stomach cancers, providing results via a red, amber, and green system.

Natera’s Signatera test detects recurring cancer by identifying circulating tumor DNA fragments in the blood. The Halo test, developed by Mercy BioAnalytics, identifies early-stage cancer by analyzing single extracellular vesicles.

Addressing the diagnostic gap in abdominal cancers

Advertising for the Pinpoint test notes that while the number of people referred for NHS cancer scans is increasing annually, only 7% of those referred are eventually diagnosed with cancer.

Early detection is essential, as bowel cancer survival rates are significantly higher at early stages, with about 9 in 10 patients diagnosed at stage 1 surviving at least 5 years, compared to about 1 in 10 at stage 4.

Funding and research leadership

The project was commissioned via the NIHR Health Technology Assessment Programme. This initiative aims to determine whether these multi-cancer blood tests should be implemented nationwide across the NHS.

Government and clinical leadership perspectives

Government officials and health leaders emphasize the trial's role in the National Cancer Plan. Health Secretary Yvette Cooper stated these innovations form a key part of the plan to provide faster diagnosis and effective treatment.

Health minister James Frith described the trial as a world-first effort for earlier diagnosis of abdominal cancers. He noted that these cancers are often difficult to identify because symptoms are frequently misread as other conditions.

NHS National Clinical Director for Cancer Professor Peter Johnson called the trial the start of a "revolution in cancer diagnosis". He said it will assist GPs in directing patients to the correct tests sooner.

The trial, conducted in England, aims to streamline urgent referrals, reduce pressure on the NHS, and facilitate earlier diagnoses.

This effort is supported by the NIHR, which has invested in high-quality research to transform patient care for 20 years.

Timeline for potential national rollout

The trial is expected to provide findings to guide future research and determine if these blood tests could be implemented within the NHS.