The Christie Impact Report 2023-24

A match made in a lab The TARGET study is looking at gene changes in advanced solid cancers (anything other than those of the blood system) and how genetic information can help doctors decide the most suitable trial for cancer patients. The national study is funded by ourselves and the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, and looks at DNA changes in blood and tissue samples, how cancer cells grow, how different targeted treatments might work and why treatments work in some people and not in others. Because small amounts of DNA leak from the tumour into the blood stream, a blood sample taken from a patient can be all that’s needed to find the genetic code of the tumour and match patients with the right clinical trial. Dr Matthew Krebs says: “The NHS is making great strides forward in offering genetic testing for cancer patients, but at the moment this is restricted to patients with certain types of cancer and requires a biopsy sample for the testing. “The TARGET National study uses a state-of-the art blood test to look for any genetic faults in the cancer. We hope this will be available on the NHS one day.”

7