World’s first finger-prick test to quickly spot brain cancer recurrence developed

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Scientists are developing the world’s first lateral flow test – similar to those used during the Covid-19 pandemic – to detect brain tumours.

The aim is to develop a simple test that patients can use at home, researchers say.

The work will target aggressive, recurring tumours which currently lead to almost 200,000 deaths a year globally, researchers say.

Although it can sometimes be inevitable that tumours will recur following initial treatment, the unpredictable timing makes them difficult to detect early, leading to poor prognosis.

The researchers say the new test, which would work via a simple finger prick, would improve the lives of tens of thousands of people across the world.

It could also significantly reduce the burden on healthcare systems by reducing the need for MRI scans and providing a cost-effective alternative to some clinic appointments.

A team at Nottingham Trent University (NTU) is leading the work, funded by the Medical Research Council, and working with researchers at the University of Sheffield.

Philippe Wilson, Professor of One Health NTU, said: “Brain tumours are managed with the best available treatments when first diagnosed but, unfortunately, recurrence is a major problem and some come back very quickly and aggressively.

He added: “If you have an MRI six months after treatment, by that point a tumour could have been back for a significant amount of time potentially.

“It’s hard to imagine a medical technology so widely used and understood as the lateral flow test.

“This tech would provide regular, affordable disease monitoring for patients at home in an easy-to-use way.

“We hope the work could be applied to other types of cancer too, potentially helping to save millions of lives worldwide.”

The researchers are focussing on developing lateral flow tests capable of detecting molecules in the blood that are specific to a tumour, and would give a very early indication of it returning.

Prototypes are being are being worked on as part of the project before the study moves on to clinical trials.

The technology will seek to detect cancers such as glioblastoma (GBM), the most malignant form of brain tumour.

Dr Ola Rominiyi, from the University of Sheffield’s School of Medicine and Population Health, said: “Aggressive brain tumours such as glioblastoma virtually always come back after treatment, but detecting this recurrence at the earliest possible stage remains a challenge and an important priority for research highlighted by patients.

“Currently, patients often have follow-up MRI scans every three to six months, but successful development of a lateral flow test to detect brain cancer could make it possible to efficiently test for recurrence every week, so that more recurrent tumours are caught early, at a more treatable stage.”