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Personalised cancer treatment, matched to a patient via a simple blood test, is being hailed as “life-saving”, following an initial study.

The Target National trial, being conducted at The Christie hospital in Manchester, analyses a patient’s DNA to determine what type of therapy will work best for them.

If successful, researchers hope the procedure could become “routinely available on the NHS”.

Dr Matthew Krebs, the study’s chief investigator, tells Sky News its research was making “precision medicine” more accessible for a wider range of cancer patients.

“There are tiny bits of DNA which come off the cancer that circulate around in the bloodstream,” he explains, “so we can extract the DNA that specifically comes from the cancer.”

Dr Matthew Krebs, the chief investigator of the Target National trial exploring how blood tests can personalise and improve cancer treatment
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Dr Matthew Krebs, the chief investigator of the Target National trial, says patients can get ‘more personalised’ treatment

That DNA is then analysed, allowing doctors to see its specific mutations and suggest bespoke treatment.

Dr Krebs says that means “rather than just treating generically with chemotherapy-type drugs” the patient gets a treatment “that’s more personalised to them”.

Although genetic and DNA testing for cancer patients is already being carried out in hospitals, typically the sample is collected using a biopsy.

That can involve surgery, be intrusive, painful and – in some cases – delayed.

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The trial uses blood tests to determine how cancer patients can have bespoke treatment
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The trial analyses a patient’s DNA to determine what type of therapy will work best for them

‘It’s been life-saving’

The Target National study, funded by The Christie Charity and the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, hopes to recruit 6,000 patients, to examine if the blood-test route, in effect a “liquid biopsy”, improves patient outcomes.

Dr Krebs says they know that the blood test route “won’t work for everyone”, but in some cases, it has already enabled patients with advanced cancers to be matched to drug trials.

Pamela Garner-Jones, 78, was told her stage four cervical cancer was “inoperable” and “no longer responding to treatment”.

“They were talking about palliative care,” she tells Sky News. “I thought they were making it up, I couldn’t believe it.”

At that point, Ms Garner-Jones was offered a place on the Target National study. Her blood test matched her to a new immunotherapy drug trial, that saw her tumour shrink by two-thirds.

Pamela Garner-Jones, 78, was told her Stage 4 cervical cancer was "inoperable" - but a trial blood test helped personalise her care with a new drug, which shrunk her tumour
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Pamela Garner-Jones was told her cervical cancer was ‘inoperable’ but a trial blood test helped her access a new drug, which shrunk her tumour

“Honestly, I couldn’t ask for anything more,” she says. “I’ve got more energy, my appetite’s back – it’s been life-saving.”

“It’s just a simple blood test and you’re not pumped full of no end of drugs,” she adds.

Ms Garner-Jones says she is now looking forward to a holiday with friends, meals out and being able to spend time in her garden.

“I’m made up,” she says. “Like a dog with two tails!”

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Body found in search for missing jogger Jenny Hall

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Body found in search for missing jogger Jenny Hall

A body has been found in the search for 23-year-old runner Jenny Hall. 

She was last seen leaving her home in Barracks Farm, County Durham, in her car just after 3pm on Tuesday.

Police said there are not thought to be any suspicious circumstances after a body was found in a very remote area in Teesdale on Sunday morning, five days after she went missing.

Jenny Hall. Pic: Durham Constabulary
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Jenny Hall went missing on Tuesday. Pic: Durham Constabulary

“We’re sorry to report that officers searching for missing woman Jenny Hall, have sadly found a body,” Durham Constabulary said in a statement.

“Officers carried out an extensive search alongside specialist partners and have been working around-the-clock to locate Jenny after she went missing on February 18.

“The body was found in a very remote area in Teesdale just after 9.30am today.

“Formal identification has yet to take place. Jenny’s family have been notified and are currently being supported by specialist officers. They have asked for privacy at this devasting time.

“It is not believed there are any suspicious circumstances and a file will be prepared for the coroner.”

A major police search was launched after Ms Hall’s disappearance.

Her car, a red Ford Focus, was found on Wednesday parked on the B6278, near remote moorland between Eggleston and Stanhope.

Mountain rescue teams, specialist drones and sniffer dogs had been combing the Hamsterley Forest and the surrounding areas, where there are a number of running trails, this week.

Digital intelligence officers also carried out extensive inquiries into Ms Hall’s mobile phone, smart watch and running apps.

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Fresh amber warning for rain as Met Office issues alerts for much of UK

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Fresh amber warning for rain as Met Office issues alerts for much of UK

A fresh amber weather warning for heavy rain has been issued by the Met Office – with much of the UK already on alert for high winds and showers.

Northern Ireland, Scotland and the UK’s west coast and the Midlands have yellow warnings for wind on Sunday – meaning the possibility of transport delays and short-term power cuts.

There are also rain warnings in place for several parts of western UK.

The new amber warning has been issued for rain in south and central Wales and is in force from 3pm on Sunday to 6am on Monday.

An amber warning means danger to life from floodwater, homes and businesses are likely to be flooded, and there is a chance some communities will be cut off.

Winds across the west of the UK will increase throughout the morning with gusts up to 70mph in exposed areas, the Met Office said.

Zoe Hutin, a meteorologist at the forecaster, said Sunday is expected to be the “worst day” before conditions improve.

“The wind warning itself for the mainland UK ends at 6pm, but we can expect to continue to see quite blustery conditions even into the evening as the mainland rain itself pushes through.”

She added: “By the time people get up on Monday, we’ll still have some of the residual rain from that front in the far south-east of the country, and quite cloudy across England as well.

“But actually elsewhere, it could be a decent start.”

The Met Office’s yellow weather warnings for much of England and Scotland came into force at 6am and are expected to run until 6pm on Sunday.

A separate yellow warning for Northern Ireland came into force at 3am and runs until 3pm.

Rain and high winds are expected across the west of the UK
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Rain and high winds are expected across the west of the UK

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People who have noticed some slightly higher temperatures the last couple of days may be dismayed at the latest predictions.

“Through the week, those temperatures are trending back down,” Ms Hutin said.

“And so it will be getting cooler each day, but they will actually just be recovering to around average for the time of year. So it won’t be cold.

“It will just be returning back to where we would expect to be for this time of February.”

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Starmer says ‘US is right’ about UK and Europe needing to take more responsibility for defence

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Starmer says 'US is right' about UK and Europe needing to take more responsibility for defence

Sir Keir Starmer has said the United States “is right” about the UK and Europe needing to take more responsibility for defence and security.

The prime minister, speaking at the Scottish Labour conference in Glasgow on Sunday, said he is clear Britain “will take a leading responsibility” in protecting the continent.

“Instability in Europe always washes up on our shores,” he said.

“And this is a generational moment. I’ve been saying for some time that we Europeans – including the United Kingdom – have to do more for our defence and security. The US is right about that.”

He added “we can’t cling to the comforts of the past” as it is “time to take responsibility for our security”.

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Donald Trump sparked an emergency meeting of European leaders this week after he said European NATO members should spend more on defence, while the US should spend less.

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Sir Keir has said he will set out a path for the UK to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence, up from the current 2.3%, but has not indicated when that will be.

It is believed he may announce the details when he visits Mr Trump in Washington DC on Thursday, bringing forward the announcement that was expected in the spring when a defence spending review is published.

The prime minister reiterated the UK will “play our role” if required in Ukraine following a peace agreement after he earlier this week said the UK would send troops to be part of a peacekeeping force.

Pic: AP
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Sir Keir will meet Donald Trump in the White House on Thursday. Pic: AP

However, his comments caused a row with Germany and Italy who said it was premature to commit to boots on the ground, although France agreed with the UK.

Sir Keir said: “As we enter a new phase in this conflict, we must now deepen our solidarity even further.”

He added: “There can be no discussion about Ukraine without Ukraine.

“And the people of Ukraine must have long-term security.”

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This week has seen US officials meet their Russian counterparts in Saudi Arabia to discuss Ukraine – which has been met with indignation by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as none of his team were invited.

No Europeans were invited either, sparking concern the US is pandering to Vladimir Putin.

Sir Keir has promised Mr Zelenskyy he will make the case for safeguarding Ukraine’s sovereignty when he meets with Mr Trump, who has called the Ukrainian president a dictator.

Mr Trump also said Sir Keir and French President Emmanuel Macron, who will visit the White House too this week, “haven’t done anything” to end the war.

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