Life Science Group (LSG), in partnership with Aberystwyth University (AU), Highfield Diagnostics (HDx), Protem Services (PS) and Valley Diagnostics (VDX) and Professor Keir Lewis, a respiratory specialist at Hywel Dda University Health Board (HDUHB), are developing a rapid, cost-effective diagnostic kit using a digital platform for the early detection of lung cancer (LC).
LC affects c.48,000 individuals p.a. in the UK, kills more people than any other cancer, and costs the NHS \>£2.4bn p.a.. Diagnosis of the disease in its early stages is challenging, since clinical symptoms only occur if the tumour is very large or has spread outside the lung. Potentially curative treatment (surgery) is possible in about 1-in-8 people; 7-in-8 are offered treatments to slow/palliate their incurable disease.
To improve prognoses, the NHS will implement a screening programme where smokers or ex-smokers aged \>60 are offered a CAT scan every 3-5 years. However, early results indicate many high-risk people do not respond to their invitations for scans. Large-scale roll-out is also hampered by a lack of CAT scanners and X-ray doctors in many areas.
This project will overcome these problems by developing a pre-test to rapidly identify people most likely to benefit from scanning. Our multi-screen test kit identifies tiny proteins (cancer biomarkers) present in urine. The 6 biomarkers identified can diagnose lung cancer with 90% accuracy, at very early stages, before the onset of clinical symptoms; and can rapidly discern disease staging.
The test will be fully developed for use in GP surgeries or an 'at-home' setting. Its urine-based nature makes it simple, non-invasive and easy to use via lateral flow (LF) techniques familiar globally following the recent Covid-19 pandemic. The result will be read using a smartphone app and digital platform and directly transmitted to the patient, carer or healthcare provider as appropriate. The app will also provide support, guidance and signposts to professional assistance which could involve follow-up CAT screening.
This diagnostic kit is the result of collaboration between UK academic and commercial partners and multiple NHS hospitals in Wales. It is envisaged that further tests will be developed over the next 5 years which will be able to tell not only if someone has a disease such as cancer, but also monitor its progression, location and treatment efficacy. This will enable rapid, cost-effective and accurate diagnosis of a number of other cancers and respiratory conditions both in GP surgeries and at home.