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The NHS has introduced a groundbreaking rapid test for brain tumours that dramatically reduces the time needed for an accurate diagnosis—from as long as eight weeks to just two hours. This advancement allows doctors to quickly determine the exact tumour type, enabling patients to begin treatments such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy much sooner, thereby alleviating weeks of uncertainty.
Steve Palmer, a 55-year-old from Nottingham, experienced the benefits of this technology firsthand. During his surgery to remove a tumour, surgeons were able to receive the diagnostic results in real time. Speaking to the BBC, Steve said, “Getting that quick diagnosis removed weeks of anxiety.” Following his collapse at a gym, he was diagnosed with a grade 4 glioblastoma thanks to the test, which, though not the news he hoped for, allowed him to focus on treatment and recovery. Consultant neurosurgeon Stuart Smith, who led Steve’s operation at Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, described the test as “almost magical,” emphasizing its ability to deliver full molecular and genetic analysis during surgery rather than the typical six to eight-week wait.
The real-time diagnosis can directly influence surgical decisions. Stuart Smith explained that for some brain tumours, which are potentially curable, surgeons aim to remove as much tumour tissue as possible. Conversely, more aggressive tumour types, which cannot be entirely removed surgically, require a more cautious approach to avoid damaging healthy brain tissue. This rapid diagnosis thus guides surgeons in tailoring their operative strategy to the tumour’s behaviour.
The test process involves taking small tissue samples from the tumour, which are then sent to a pathology lab. These samples are analyzed using a compact sequencing device created by Oxford Nanopore, which sequences the tumour DNA through a nanopore—a tiny hole—revealing the tumour’s unique genetic signature. This technology uses specialized software developed in collaboration with the University of Nottingham and hospital clinicians. Dr. Simon Paine, consultant neuropathologist at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, praised the test, saying, “I’m crystal ball gazing and can do it reasonably well on a good day, but nowhere near with the clarity of the nanopore, which gives a comprehensive molecular classification.”
Each year in the UK, more than 12,000 people receive a diagnosis of a primary brain tumour, which is the leading cause of cancer death in children and adults under 40. Professor Frankie Swords, the NHS medical director, noted the urgent need for swift diagnosis in these cases, stating, “For people with suspected brain tumours, getting the right diagnosis quickly can feel like a race against time, while waiting weeks for answers can be agonising for them and their families.” He highlighted that this rapid test could revolutionize brain tumour diagnostics by providing results within days instead of weeks, allowing patients to begin treatment or access clinical trials sooner and assisting surgeons in making critical decisions during operations.
The NHS England pilot program for this test is currently underway in five specialist centres located in Nottingham, Birmingham, London, and Newcastle, including institutions such as Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and King’s College Hospital. Plans are in place to extend the pilot to additional sites in Bristol, Oxford, Leeds, and Manchester. This initiative builds upon earlier projects already active in Nottingham and Birmingham, aiming to improve brain tumour care nationwide
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