UCLH launches new ovarian cancer surveillance service for women at high risk

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH), in collaboration with the NHS North Central London Cancer Alliance (NCLCA) and GENinCode Plc, becomes the first hospital trust in the country to provide a new ovarian cancer (OC) surveillance testing service as part of its Familial Cancer Clinic. The service, in line with new NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) guidance¹, is for women who have a high risk of ovarian cancer due to inherited BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene alterations, who wish to defer preventative surgery.

Women who carry a cancer-causing variant in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene have 44% and 17% respectively lifetime risks of ovarian cancer (OC) up to the age of 80 years. Around 1 in every 400 people carries a cancer-causing variant in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene. They are advised to undergo surgical removal of their fallopian tubes and ovaries to prevent OC. This remains the best option for this group of patients. NICE guidance also recommends that surveillance should be offered to women who choose to defer surgery to be able to have children and/or avoid early menopause. UCLH is the first trust in the country to offer this surveillance on the NHS, outside of a trial setting.  

The Risk of Ovarian Cancer Algorithm (ROCA)Test’s proprietary algorithm calculates a woman’s individual risk based on several factors. These include cumulative CA 125 blood test results, age, menopausal status and the presence of a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene alteration. Having the ROCA blood test every 4 months reduces the chance of being diagnosed with late-stage ovarian cancer (stages III and IV).

Three key prospective studies have been conducted using the ROCA Test in high-risk women. The first, the UK Familial Ovarian Cancer Screening Study (UKFOCSS), was led by University College London (UCL). Based on the reduction in late-stage ovarian cancer seen in this trial, a ‘real world’ NHS implementation study, ALDO (Avoiding Late Diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer) was initiated to assess the feasibility of ROCA surveillance in the NHS and to conduct an economic analysis. Based on these data, and a further US study, which together report a 44% reduction in stage III and IV ovarian cancer, the NICE committee concluded that the ROCA Test is the preferred method of surveillance for women deferring preventative surgery. Economic analysis also indicates a cost saving to the NHS.

Professor Adam Rosenthal, Consultant Gynaecologist at UCLH said:

“Having pioneered the clinical trials in this area, we have reached a significant milestone in being able to offer ROCA surveillance for high-risk women in our NHS Familial Cancer Clinic. The service will give women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene alterations a surveillance option if they want to complete their families or defer preventive surgery for other reasons.”   

Ali Malik, Managing Director of the NCLCA said:

“After supporting the ALDO study to prove the viability of the using the ROCA Test, we are proud to help UCLH establish this service. For the first time it will empower all eligible women across North Central London who are not ready to undergo cancer prevention surgery. Surveillance means that their ovarian cancer risk will be closely monitored, and hence mitigate the risk of being diagnosed at the most advanced stages. This step forward highlights the Cancer Alliance’s distinctive role in initiating, evaluating, and embedding innovative approaches into clinical practice.”

Matthew Walls, Chief Executive Officer, GENinCode Plc said:

“We are delighted to have worked closely with UCLH and the North Central London Cancer Alliance to deliver this first NHS ROCA surveillance service for women at high-risk of ovarian cancer. It has required a significant effort from the cross-functional teams involved and we are grateful for their determination and focus. We look forward to extending the ROCA Test implementation to other NHS trusts in due course."

Read the earlier study.