Brain Cancer: Health Services
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, by what date liquid biopsy technologies will be routinely available for brain tumour patients across the NHS; how many additional patients are expected to gain access to targeted or repurposed treatments as a result; what barriers currently prevent access to such treatments where the same mutation is already treated in another cancer type; and who will be responsible for working to remove those barriers.
Answered by Department of Health and Social Care
While no specific assessment has been made of when liquid biopsy technologies will be routinely available for brain tumour patients or the resulting access to targeted treatments, the National Cancer Plan for England commits to expand biomarker testing over the next five years. In particular, the plan commits that every cancer patient who needs a genomic test to guide their treatment will receive one, with the results informing clinical decisions. The scope of testing will continue to be reviewed, with additional biomarker tests brought into routine use where clinically appropriate and cost effective, including liquid biopsy for brain tumours.
To address technical and operational barriers to targeted treatments for brain tumours, NHS England has produced national sample handling guidance for whole genome sequencing (WGS) of solid tumours. This guidance aims to maintain DNA quality and improve access to WGS by standardising the collection, processing, and transport of samples. Approaches to the handling of fresh tissue have also been reviewed to speed up processes, and address variability and access to WGS for brain tumour patients. NHS England monitors performance through Patient Level Contract Monitoring data and works with NHS Genomic Laboratory Hubs to address variation and drive improvements.
NHS England is responsible for removing barriers and for commissioning the NHS Genomic Medicine Service (GMS) in England. WGS is available through the NHS GMS for all brain cancer patients where expert review indicates genomic testing is needed to support diagnosis, treatment decisions, or clinical trial access. The number of brain cancer patients receiving WGS has increased over the past 12 months. NHS England is also exploring alternative technological approaches to brain cancer genomic testing, in order to support more timely and scalable genomic testing.
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