QuicDNA: Transforming lung cancer care with rapid diagnosis and treatment

Mary Simpson’s journey to diagnosis

One patient that has benefited from the incredible advancements made by QuicDNA technology is Mary Simpson. Mary, a great-grandmother who loves walking and being outdoors, had been looking forward to resuming her active lifestyle after a second knee replacement in 2023. But by spring 2024, she began experiencing persistent leg pain, which was put down to a trapped nerve.

A routine blood test revealed very high B12 levels, and she was sent for a CT scan. While on holiday in Cornwall, Mary received a phone call that set her on an unexpected path. An appointment was made for her GP to call later, when she was told that the scan had revealed a small spot on her left lung. The day after returning home from Cornwall, Mary had an appointment for an MRI scan. Just days before her 80th birthday, Mary was diagnosed with lung cancer and secondary bone cancer. Although Mary praises her healthcare team, the news was a shock for her and her family. “Our daughter was with us when we were first told, and I think our whole family went into shock,” she says.

Mary’s next steps included respiratory consultations and additional testing. As part of her assessments, Mary had a liquid biopsy blood test, through the QuicDNA lung cancer project. This innovative test significantly shortened the time to treatment, providing critical information for her clinical team weeks ahead of traditional methods. Mary was able to begin targeted lung cancer treatment in September 2024, an entire month before tissue biopsy results, which would not have been available until October.

Velindre’s Dr Paul Shaw, Consultant in Clinical Oncology, highlights the profound clinical and emotional impact: “Mary’s case demonstrates the transformative potential of rapid ctDNA analysis. The psychological impact of waiting for diagnostic results cannot be overestimated; this can be a source of very understandable concern for many patients and families who without ctDNA results may wait patiently for weeks at such a difficult time.”

This accelerated pathway allowed Mary to receive care from the oncology team much sooner, reinforcing the value of liquid biopsy as a game-changer in lung cancer diagnostics and treatment.

The impact on patients and families

Mary felt an improvement almost immediately after starting treatment. The leg pain that disrupted her daily life, vanished. While she experienced some side effects, adjustments to her medication alleviated them.

In January 2025, Mary received encouraging scan results: “The tumour on my lung has shrunk a bit, and my understanding is that where the cancer has gone into my bone, it’s contained and hasn’t got any worse. I think I’m still in shock, it really knocks you sideways.”

Mary continues to have scans every three months and remains optimistic. She says, “You’ve got to stay positive. I’m quite a philosophical person and I take every day as it comes, which is all you can do.”

Looking to the future