Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential for genomic testing to identify which breast cancer patients require chemotherapy and which do not, in light of the recent trial by University College London entitled Optimal Personalised Treatment of early breast cancer using Multi-parameter Analysis.

The Government and NHS England recognise the importance of genomic testing to support more personalised treatment for cancer patients, including those with breast cancer. While decisions on specific treatment pathways, including the use of chemotherapy for breast cancer, are made by clinicians based on individual patient circumstances and the latest clinical evidence and guidance, genomic testing is increasingly being used to inform those decisions where appropriate.

As set out in the National Cancer Plan, genomic testing is being expanded across the National Health Service so that every patient who would benefit receives testing within a clinically relevant timeframe. The plan also commits to further embedding genomic testing as a routine and timely part of treatment planning. This will support more precise clinical decision-making and ensure that patients benefit from advances in personalised medicine as the evidence base continues to develop.

The NHS Genomic Medicine Service, delivered through a national network of Genomic Laboratory Hubs and guided by the National Genomic Test Directory, already provides access to a wide range of genomic tests for over 200 cancer indications. These tests are used to inform diagnosis and treatment planning across cancer pathways. The Test Directory sets out the eligibility criteria for patients to access testing as well as the genomic targets to be tested and the method that should be used. This includes a range of testing for breast cancer that can inform treatment decisions.