Professor Georgios Lyratzopoulos and Dr Meena Rafiq
University College London
Awarded: £249,982
Funded in collaboration with the Bone Cancer Research Trust
The challenge
Unlike many cancers, sarcomas are rarely picked up early, patients often visit their GP several times before being referred to a specialist. This delay can lead to more advanced disease, more complications, and fewer treatment options.
Sarcomas are also less likely than other cancers to be referred through urgent cancer pathways, which can further delay diagnosis. Earlier diagnosis is key to improving survival, but right now, GPs don’t have the right tools or guidance to spot sarcomas sooner.
How will this project tackle this challenge?
This research will use data from GP surgeries across England, linked with hospital and cancer records, to understand the full journey of sarcoma patients before their diagnosis. It will explore:
- Where in the pathway delays happen, especially around GP requests for scans and specialist referrals.
- What symptoms or patterns of GP visits might signal the early presence of sarcoma.
- Whether routine blood tests already used in general practice could provide early warning signs of sarcoma.
This detailed analysis will help the researchers identify new ways GPs can recognise and refer sarcoma patients sooner.
What this means for people affected by sarcoma
This project aims to uncover why sarcomas are diagnosed late and identify new, practical ways for GPs to recognise the signs earlier. The findings could lead to updated guidance and tools for GPs, so that patients with sarcoma are referred and diagnosed early, leading to improved outcomes.
