A new study by researchers at the University of Exeter has found that routine blood tests used in primary care to assess anaemia and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) are more effective at predicting cancer risk in White patients than in Asian or Black patients.
This research, funded by Cancer Research UK, the Higgins Family and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIRH), highlights the limitations of current diagnostic guidelines and emphasises the need for a more personalised or tailored approach to cancer risk assessment across different ethnic groups.
The study revealed that low haemoglobin, low MCV, and iron-deficiency anaemia were less reliable indicators of cancer risk in Black and Asian patients compared with White patients. The discrepancy was most evident for MCV levels, which were strongly associated with colorectal and oesophagogastric cancer diagnoses, and the detection of cancer at an advanced stage.
Dr Tanimola Martins, Senior Research Fellow in Cancer Diagnostics at the University of Exeter Medical School, said: "Our study shows that we urgently need to address the health inequalities that are arising from routine tests for cancer. We need more research to fully understand the reasons for these differences, but they are likely linked to a mix of biological, lifestyle, socioeconomic, and health system factors, such as testing rates. By building this knowledge, we can help ensure that all patients, receive timely and accurate cancer investigations, regardless of ethnicity."
As early detection remains crucial for improving cancer survival rates, it is vital for primary care clinicians to accurately identify patients at higher risk who require further investigation. Current clinical guidelines consider factors such as patients' age and sex, but do not account for ethnicity, despite known variations in cancer incidence among different ethnic groups. This study represents an initial step in generating evidence on the topic, which could, in time, support clinicians in the decision-making process.
