75 A new UK study reveals that blood tests significantly improve cancer detection in patients over 60 who consult their GP for nonspecific abdominal symptoms, such as pain or bloating. This population-based research examined 477,870 patients aged 30 and older, aiming to assess how 19 abnormal blood test results contribute to identifying underlying cancers. The findings highlight that specific abnormalities, including raised platelets and low albumin levels, are linked with an increased cancer risk, making such tests a valuable tool in primary care. The findings were published in the journal PLOS Medicine. The study used data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink, covering patients from January 2007 to October 2016, and found that blood tests helped refine cancer risk estimates. Patients with abnormal test results who presented abdominal pain or bloating were more likely to be diagnosed with cancer within the following year. For patients aged 60 and above, the positive predictive value of these symptoms and test results exceeded the 3% threshold used by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to recommend urgent specialist cancer referrals. For example, in men over 60, high platelet counts in conjunction with abdominal pain raised cancer risk above 3%, while in women, elevated CA125 levels with abdominal bloating were highly suggestive of ovarian cancer. Abdominal pain and bloating, although often benign, can sometimes be indicators of serious health issues, particularly in older patients. The study reported that cancer incidence was notably higher in those with specific blood abnormalities and abdominal symptoms, with cancers often located in organs such as the colon, liver, pancreas, and ovaries. Among tested patients, the predictive value of cancer increased notably in those with high platelets, low albumin, or raised inflammatory markers, supporting the integration of blood tests in the initial stages of cancer screening for older adults with these nonspecific symptoms. The findings suggest potential improvements in clinical practice by incorporating blood test abnormalities into cancer risk assessment guidelines. Currently, NICE guidelines recommend urgent referrals for patients over 60 if abdominal symptoms are accompanied by significant weight loss, anaemia, or rectal bleeding. This study, however, indicates that blood test abnormalities alone may be enough to prioritise some patients for further assessment, even in the absence of these traditional alarm symptoms. One major finding was that patients over 60 with normal blood test results had a lower cancer risk, indicating that blood tests may help to safely rule out cancer for some individuals, reducing unnecessary specialist referrals. The study’s authors suggest that primary care guidelines might benefit from the additional inclusion of blood test abnormalities, enabling GPs to better identify high-risk patients while easing the burden of referrals for those at low risk. Although further clinical trials may be necessary to confirm these benefits, the results already provide valuable guidance for doctors managing older patients with abdominal complaints. This study is expected to inform upcoming updates to NICE cancer referral guidelines, potentially leading to faster diagnosis and treatment for those at risk. By refining patient assessments through these widely available blood tests, GPs could detect more cases of cancer early, leading to improved outcomes for patients across the UK.