The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust has opened a new cancer genomics laboratory in Sutton designed to deliver nationwide composite biomarker testing and expand access to personalised treatments and clinical trials.
The Royal Marsden Centre for Cancer Genomics is the first NHS facility designed to develop and deliver composite biomarker testing, which combines multiple types of patient and tumour data to help identify which treatments are most likely to benefit individual patients.
The facility will act as a national biomarker testing centre for clinical trials, allowing patient samples to be analysed from anywhere in the UK.
The new laboratory could enable more patients to access specialised drug trials without travelling to major cancer centres.
The project has been funded by The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, including investment in expanding circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) testing, alongside an infrastructure grant from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
Combining genomic data and machine learning
Traditional biomarker testing typically identifies a single indicator, such as a genetic mutation, to help determine which treatment a patient should receive.
Composite biomarker testing instead combines multiple measurements, including genetic mutations, immune signatures and features identified through medical imaging.
Machine learning is then used to identify patterns across these different data sources, helping researchers investigate why some patients respond to particular treatments while others do not.
The approach aims to improve the identification of patients most likely to benefit from specific treatments or combinations of drugs.
Professor Michael Hubank, scientific director of clinical genomics at The Royal Marsden and professor of translational genomics at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, said the centre would provide the capacity to develop and deliver more sophisticated diagnostic tests.
“Composite biomarker testing looks set to deliver on the promise of integrated diagnostics, compiling as many different types of data as is necessary to characterise the patient and their tumour and make an effective, truly personalised clinical decision,” said Hubank.
Expanding ctDNA testing and translational research
The centre will also support translational research, helping move diagnostic innovations from research laboratories into clinical practice, alongside next-generation ctDNA testing and personalised diagnostic pathways such as MyTrack Myeloma.
CtDNA testing is a form of liquid biopsy that detects fragments of tumour DNA circulating in the bloodstream.
It can be used to support cancer diagnosis, guide treatment decisions and monitor the risk of recurrence.
The Royal Marsden became the first NHS trust to deliver large-scale ctDNA testing in 2023 and co-led a national pilot that received samples from hospitals across the country.
As the cancer testing laboratory for the North Thames Genomics Laboratory Hub, one of seven such hubs in England, the new centre will enable the trust to relocate and expand its ctDNA analysis programme.
It will also support the evaluation of new applications for the technology and its integration with other diagnostic measurements.
Dame Cally Palmer, Chief Executive of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, said the centre would help bring new diagnostic and genomic technologies into clinical practice more quickly.
By bringing together research, clinical expertise and patient care, the facility is intended to increase access to advanced cancer testing and support the development of personalised treatments across the NHS.
Supporting cancer research and patient care
The centre will sit within a life sciences campus alongside The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), The Royal Marsden’s long-standing academic partner, as part of the developing London Cancer District in Sutton.
The Royal Marsden and the ICR jointly operate the UK's only NIHR Biomedical Research Centre dedicated solely to cancer, supporting research into new approaches to diagnosis and treatment.
The new facility is also intended to strengthen collaboration between the NHS, academia and industry, supporting the development and adoption of diagnostic technologies and investment in the UK's life sciences sector.
