'Huge step forward' as 'cutting-edge' NHS test improves care of children with cancer
Experts say they are delighted with the findings
A North East professor says it is a huge step forward after an NHS trial found a "cutting-edge" test dramatically improves the care of children with cancer.
Researchers say decoding the entire genetic sequence of a child's cancer should become standard practice in the health service.
They say it will replace hundreds of other tests, and could benefit a thousand young people a year in England alone.
The test, known as whole genome sequencing and available on the NHS, is quicker at giving results than standard tests and offers more benefits than all of them combined, according to researchers at Great Ormond Street Hospital, the University of Cambridge, Cambridge University Hospitals and the Wellcome Sanger Institute.
It works by providing a readout of the entire genetic code of a patient's tumour and identifies every single cancer-causing mutation.
By pinpointing these genetic mutations, whole genome sequencing enables medics to personalise treatments for patients and work out the chance of cancer coming back.
It can also establish whether cancer runs in families and if siblings are at higher risk.
In comparison, standard tests only look at tiny regions of the cancer genome, meaning children often have to undergo multiple tests.
Professor Anthony Moorman is co-director of the Leukaemia Research Cytogenetics Group at Newcastle University.
He is supported by Children's Cancer North, a charity that helps make life better for families in the North East and Cumbria.
He said: "So not only will this test identify all the genomic abnomalities all those other tests will identify, but it'll identify even more information that can be then given to the doctor who will then be able to use that information to treat that patient most effectively.
"I think this is actually quite a big step to be honest. I think this study and all the research that sits behind this study is really the benefits of the geno-mapping project that was reported 10-15 years ago, and this is the fruit of this huge project.
"We're now able to do whole genome sequencing on all children that are diagnosed with cancer. That information will feed in to the wider research community and also directly into that child's care.
"In the future when this test is rolled out, I think what will happen is treatment will improve, we'll be able to deliver less toxic chemotherapy to children with cancer and hopefully we can start to think about how we can actually reduce the level of childhood cancer."
Professor Dame Sue Hill, chief scientific officer and senior responsible officer for Genomics, NHS England, said: "The NHS is the only healthcare system in the world offering whole genome sequencing routinely, including for all paediatric cancers, some adult cancers, and rare diseases - helping us deliver more accurate diagnoses so we can offer more targeted treatment for patients.
"It's great to see evidence of the benefits of this for children and young people with cancer and we hope this data will lead to more widespread use of it on the NHS, alongside other comprehensive gene panel testing."