New Blood Test Could Spare Women Painful Womb Cancer Checks

By Health Correspondent

A pioneering blood test could change the way womb cancer is diagnosed, sparing women invasive checks and painful biopsies.

The ECctDNA test, developed by experts at the University of Leicester and University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, detects fragments of cancer in the blood, offering a quicker and far less intrusive way to spot recurrence.

Developed over eight years and trialled with more than 85 women, the test could revolutionise care for the 9,800 UK women diagnosed with endometrial (womb) cancer each year.

Patients Speak Out

For Gillian Stacey, 80, the test is a potential game-changer. Diagnosed 11 years ago, she survived what doctors first thought was a six-month prognosis, and even battled a cancer recurrence in her lungs five years later.

“I’ve had many medical examinations over the years and it can be incredibly invasive. If there’s an easier and less traumatic way to diagnose this type of cancer, then that would be a wonderful thing,” she said.

Pippa Clarkson, 65, who underwent a full hysterectomy nearly nine years ago, agrees:

“Being diagnosed with cancer really hit me hard… The procedures for diagnosis and biopsies are incredibly invasive. If this means women don’t have to go through that again, it’s all worth it.”

How the Test Works

The ECctDNA test gives clinicians not just faster detection, but also insight into the genetic changes driving the cancer — helping doctors guide future treatment.

Dr Esther Moss, Consultant Gynaecological Oncologist, said:

“For some patients, a pelvic examination following womb cancer treatment can be associated with severe discomfort and distress. This blood test could be an alternative for those patients.”

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The research was funded by the Medical Research Council, Hope Against Cancer, and the NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, with results published in Precision Medicine.

The team is now working on further validation to bring the test into everyday clinical practice — potentially making painful check-ups a thing of the past.