New AI blood test for colon cancer could save lives by tackling the massive backlog of cases caused by the Covid-19 pandemic

Scientists are launching a new “artificial intelligence blood test” for colon cancer that they hope will save lives by prioritizing those who need to be screened right away.

The Covid-19 pandemic has led to a huge backlog of patients waiting for a colonoscopy – the “gold standard” test for colon cancer, which involves inserting a small camera into the body to look for tumours.

More than nine out of 10 patients who undergo colonoscopy will not have cancer, but for those who do have cancer, any delay in treatment can affect their chances of survival.

Now scientists have developed a blood test that detects colorectal cancer with up to 96 percent accuracy.

The CanSense CRC test uses laser light and artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze a small blood sample for signs of proteins released by colon cancer cells.

The CanSense CRC test uses laser light and artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze a small blood sample for signs of proteins released by colon cancer cells. [File image]

It currently has a relatively high “false positive” rate – when patients are identified as having cancer when in fact they are not. Because of this, a colonoscopy is still necessary to confirm the result.

But scientists say the blood test could be used to great effect to prioritize the colonoscopy waiting list because it is cheap, quick and non-invasive.

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200 patients waiting for a colonoscopy in Swansea will be offered it as a precursor to a wider rollout. They should be monitored after colon cancer is defeated or precancerous lesions called polyps are removed.

Colon surgeon Professor Dean Harris, who worked with a team from Swansea University to develop the test, said 3,000 people in the city were in this situation, some of whom had “been waiting for years”.

Guidelines state that such patients require a colonoscopy every one to three years, depending on the circumstances.

Prof. However, Harris said: “All of this [checking] Activities were halted during the pandemic and now there is a huge backlog, not just in Swansea but everywhere. “

Some are not tested until they develop possible cancer symptoms – which may be too late.

Prof Harris added: “We want to help prioritize which patients should be put on the list based on the results of this blood test to get their colonoscopy done as quickly as possible.” He believes the test could have a “huge impact” on the waiting list, beyond just helping with screening [cancer] survivors, but also to identify the disease in the first place”.

The tests currently cost around £100 a time – around a quarter of the cost of a colonoscopy – but Professor Harris said this was likely to fall further as more tests were carried out. The initial rollout is funded by the Moondance Cancer Initiative, Cancer Research Wales and the National Institute for Health and Care Research.