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ToolsKurian, Katrina M., Wright, Andrew P., Sari, Fereshteh, Briggs, Mayen, Goetz, Camille, Quinlivan, Ros, Bushby, Katie, Gilbertson, Richard and Huskens, Nicky and The Tessa Jowell Centre of Excellence for Adults Committee (2025) Transforming molecular neuropathology for adult brain tumour patients in the UK: Insights on implementation, adoption, and patient access (2021-2024). Neuro-Oncology Practice. ISSN 2054-2585
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Abstract
Background: Molecular neuropathology is evolving rapidly, driven by novel genomic technologies, national policies, and the urgent need for precision brain tumour care. Inequity in access to genomic testing highlighted in previous reports warrants further investigation. Methods: We analysed anonymised data from 21 United Kingdom (UK) neuro-oncology centres (covering an estimated 84% of the population) collected in 2021 and 2024 via the Tessa Jowell Centre of Excellence for Adults programme. We assessed trends in genomic testing (including methylation arrays, gene panels, whole genome sequencing (WGS)), tumour snap freezing, turnaround times (TATs), and auditing. Results: From 2021 to 2024, total genomic tests submitted across the 21 centres increased 128% from 2946 to 6730, while glioma cases increased 18% (from 3159 to 3722). Methylation arrays, gene panels, and WGS samples submitted rose by 342%, 174%, and 291%, respectively. Centres requesting WGS increased from 4/21 (19%) to 15/21 (71%), with 90% centres (19/21) reporting snap freezing of brain tumour samples in 2024 (mean 173, range 0–650 samples frozen per centre). Mean molecular diagnosis TATs rose from 16 to 21 days; centres meeting a 14-day TAT dropped from 48% (10/21) to 30% (6/20). Auditing of TATs increased from 6/21 (29%) to 18/21 (86%). Conclusions: UK molecular neuropathology testing grew substantially 2021–2024. However, variations in testing and snap freezing, and bottlenecks in diagnostic TATs, emphasise the need for: a) targeted training and investment in rapid technologies to ensure sustainable service delivery; b) focus on remaining inequities and c) continued engagement with national benchmarking initiatives.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | Data Availability. Data will be made available upon reasonable request to the authors. Funding. KMK is funded by Innovate UK funder grant number 10027624 and Cancer Research UK funder grant numbers C30758/A29791, C18281/A29019, C18281/A30905, Southmead Hospital Charity Fund, 8036. |
| Faculty \ School: | Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School |
| UEA Research Groups: | Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Public Health |
| Depositing User: | LivePure Connector |
| Date Deposited: | 14 Oct 2025 15:33 |
| Last Modified: | 21 Oct 2025 16:30 |
| URI: | https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/100718 |
| DOI: | 10.1093/nop/npaf099 |
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