Patients with aggressive brain tumors are being denied genetic tests that could pave the way for potentially life-saving treatments, the organization Brain Cancer Justice warns.
According to her, although there are new drugs in the UK that target specific mutations, patients cannot benefit from them without first undergoing genetic testing - which is currently not routinely offered by the NHS for this category.
Alarming figures
Brain cancer affects around 12,000 Britons each year and causes around 5,000 deaths. The most serious form, glioblastoma, has a median survival of 12–18 months. Only 5 per cent of patients live five years after diagnosis, according to The Brain Tumour Charity.
The United Kingdom ranks among the countries with the lowest survival rates in the developed world for this type of cancer.
Why are tests required?
Over the last decade, the NHS has expanded access to genetic testing for some types of cancer, as many modern treatments only work in patients with certain mutations.
However, patients with brain tumors are not usually tested, as most of these tumors are not considered to be directly caused by inherited mutations.
According to Brain Cancer Justice, this leaves patients out of the running for new drugs like vorasidenib – a targeted therapy for patients with the IDH mutation, which studies have shown significantly slows tumor growth.
The organization has launched a petition calling for genetic testing to be offered to all brain cancer patients. More than 100,000 people have already signed it, forcing Parliament to consider it for debate.
The official reaction
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: "Every diagnosis of brain cancer has a profound impact on patients and their families. The National Cancer Plan aims to improve survival for rare cancers through earlier diagnosis, better treatments and research."
The government has invested over £25 million in the brain tumour research consortium and over £141 million in cancer research during 2024/25. /GazetaExpress/
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