NHS Launches AI Blood Test to Improve Womb Cancer Diagnoses
**NHS Introduces AI Blood Test to Alleviate Invasive Womb Cancer Procedures**
The NHS is set to implement an innovative AI-driven blood test aimed at evaluating women who have been referred for potential womb cancer. This new initiative is being rolled out in various hospitals across the NHS, allowing for more effective assessments before subjects undergo invasive procedures.
Currently, GPs in England refer approximately 90,000 postmenopausal women annually for examinations following heavy bleeding, with about 10,000 being diagnosed with womb cancer each year. Tragically, around 2,700 women succumb to this illness annually, highlighting the need for improved diagnostic methods.
The PinPoint test, engineered by Leeds-based PinPoint Data Science, employs machine learning technology to evaluate the risk of cancer by analyzing approximately 30 blood markers. The test categorizes patients into three risk levels: low, elevated, or high. Costs for the test are roughly £30, providing important risk assessments that aid clinicians in determining whether a patient should be monitored, referred for additional testing, or prioritized for swift assessments.
This multi-cancer tool has been utilized across various cancer treatment pathways, including those for gynaecological and other forms of cancer. Following a trial that involved 16,481 patients referred from urgent suspected cancer pathways in Yorkshire, it was discovered that 10% of the women referred due to heavy bleeding were found to have cancer. The test accurately identified 99.1% of elevated or high-risk cancers and demonstrated a 99.8% negative predictive value for those categorized as low-risk.
Both the Mid Yorkshire NHS Teaching Trust and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust are poised to adopt this test for different types of gynaecological cancers. Current procedures for suspected reproductive cancers typically include pelvic examinations and transvaginal ultrasounds, which some women find uncomfortable or painful. The PinPoint test aims to minimize the need for these procedures, potentially sparing about 18,000 women each year from undergoing transvaginal scans.
Professor Sean Duffy, chief medical officer at PinPoint Data Science, emphasized that the test’s utility lies in its ability to effectively rule out women who are at very low risk. Dr. Jacinta Walsh, a GP in West Yorkshire, noted that patients often require multiple GP visits to eliminate cancer suspects; this new test could streamline that process. Consultant gynaecologist Tracy Jackson added that since most women referred do not actually have cancer, the PinPoint test could assist in efficiently triaging patients, allowing low-risk individuals to be excluded in primary care settings.
Other recent AI initiatives in the NHS involve the MEMORI system at Kent and Canterbury Hospital, which assesses infection risks through existing patient data. Additionally, NHS England's AI triage tool in the NHS App is projected to reach over 200,000 patients by April 2028.
The government is also dedicating £20 million to implement AI-powered chest X-ray tools across all NHS trusts in England by 2029, supporting the assessment of over four million patients suspected of having lung cancer so far.
While the PinPoint test shows promise, Cancer Research UK has urged for further research to understand its overall benefits and implications for patient care and the NHS. Spokesperson Samantha Harrison highlighted that timely diagnosis is crucial for improving patient outcomes. The PinPoint test could ultimately allow some women to avoid additional invasive investigations through a simple blood test.
