According to a new analysis, delays in genomic testing are preventing tens of thousands of lung cancer patients in the UK from receiving targeted treatment that could improve their prognosis. Despite a government pledge to integrate genomics throughout the NHS, the UK Lung Cancer Coalition (UKLCC) stated that these delays continue.
Lung cancer detection and therapy increasingly heavily rely on genomic testing, which examines the DNA of cancer cells to find certain abnormalities. Finding specific tumor mutations gives patients access to an expanding array of cutting-edge, customized therapies, increasing survival rates.
Results Are Affected by Testing Delays
It is advised that it take 14 days from tissue biopsy to complete genetic results. According to the paper Faster Testing, Better Outcomes: Genomic Testing in Lung Cancer, patients in certain areas experienced delays of several weeks.
These results are consistent with Lord Darzi’s 2024 study on the NHS’s condition in England, which discovered that only 60% of results were provided on time despite over 35,000 genetic testing being performed monthly.
Delays Are Dangerous
Due to extended wait times and significant resource challenges within the NHS, only 60% of patients with lung cancer in England start treatment within 62 days. Those eligible to receive modern, targeted treatments often face the longest delays due to the need for further tests to determine the best course of treatment.
“This situation is wholly unacceptable, causing significant physical and mental harm to patients who, after receiving a devastating diagnosis, must endure prolonged waits before starting the most suitable treatment,” said Robert Rintoul, professor of thoracic oncology at the University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England, and clinical lead for UKLCC, in a press release. “Lung cancer is a rapidly fatal disease, so timely access to test results and effective treatments is essential,” he emphasised.
Tissue samples from over 30,000 lung cancer patients in the UK are sent for genetic analysis each year. According to the analysis, results could be enhanced by cutting turnaround times to the 14-day goal. Nevertheless, a number of issues lead to delays, such as the absence of public turnaround data from genomic laboratory hubs, irregular sample quality, discrepancies in results reporting, antiquated IT systems, a lack of laboratory personnel, and ineffective transportation logistics. The procedure was further slowed down by the fact that some tissue samples were even sent by second-class post.
Report Suggestions
The report suggests the following to expedite genetic testing:
Organizing biopsies to guarantee superior tissue samples for analysis.
quicker communication between genetic scientists and pathologists.
A digital tracking system and daily transportation services between genomic centers and pathology labs are provided.
lowering the turnaround time for genetic tests for lung cancer to seven days.
establishing a single online platform for clinicians to access information quickly and standardizing report forms.
Each pathology and genomics lab should designate a specific person to supervise the testing process and maintain responsibility.
Survival Rates in the UK Stay Low
Lung cancer is the United Kingdom’s leading cause of cancer death, with more than 43,000 people diagnosed each year in the United Kingdom. Survival rates vary widely, but 1-year survival stands at about 40%, while 10-year survival is only 10%, according to NHS data.
The report found that survival rates in the United Kingdom were “poor” compared with similar European countries. It pointed out that although early diagnosis can lead to a cure, over one third (35%) of diagnoses in England occurred via emergency hospital admissions.
Rintoul, who co-authored the foreword to the report, said that faster genomic testing could streamline treatment pathways, avoid less-effective treatments, and ultimately reduce costs for the NHS.
Foreword co-author David Gilligan, consultant clinical oncologist at the University of Cambridge and Royal Papworth Hospital, Cambridge, England, said that no patient diagnosed with lung cancer should wait more than 14 days for genomic test results. “We owe it to our patients to ensure they receive the most appropriate and effective treatment as swiftly as possible.”
AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Johnson & Johnson, Lilly Oncology, Merck Group, MSD, and Roche are among the companies that fund the UKLCC.
Sheena Meredith is a seasoned medical writer, editor, and healthcare communications consultant who has written extensively for both the public and medical practitioners. She is certified in medical ethics, law, and medicine.
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