New UK cancer gene testing initiative commences

A potentially groundbreaking new gene testing initiative has commenced in the UK with the aim of helping NHS cancer patients receive tailored treatment options in future.

Spearheaded by Cancer Research UK, the Stratified Medicine Programme will see cancer patients consenting to provide tumour samples to leading NHS laboratories, where they will be analysed for molecular faults related to cancer.

This information will be compiled in a database alongside relevant clinical information, allowing researchers to create a picture of how different treatments function among patients with specific genetic defects.

Phase one of the programme will cover breast, bowel, lung, prostate, ovarian and melanoma skin cancers, with the ultimate aim of allowing personalised treatment options to be developed in future.

James Peach, director of the scheme for Cancer Research UK, said: "This programme marks the beginning of the journey and there is much to be done before we can bring the benefits of personalised medicine to every cancer patient."

This comes after the organisation launched the International Rare Cancers Initiative last week, a scheme that will see it allying with other global research groups to develop treatments for rare diseases.