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Results Line and Enquiries

0203 313 5353

Oncology

The Oncology laboratory provides a comprehensive range of serological tumour marker tests and is a designated Supra-regional Assay Service (SAS) laboratory for human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP).

Since its inception by Professor Ken Bagshawe, FRS, who developed treatment for gestational trophoblastic neoplasms (GTN) based on hCG measurement in the early sixties, our laboratory has expanded its repertoire of tumour markers and developed a follow-up service for germ cell tumour (GCT) patients.

Our GTN and GCT follow-up service involves automatic dispatch of request forms for tumour marker analysis at specific time intervals, in accordance with clinical guidelines for management. Elevated results are automatically flagged and the clinician in charge informed. Cost and clinical risk is thereby minimised and patients are empowered through direct involvement in their own clinical management.

The laboratory’s work is co-ordinated through Oncology’s in-house developed IT system, PDM (Patient Data Management), which also provides log-linear graphical reporting of serial tumour marker results and analysis of the rates of change in marker levels; information that indicates the relative success of treatment or rapidity of tumour growth.

All referred samples are kept for a minimum of one month to support telephone requests for additional testing. As a specialist Oncology laboratory located within a clinical Oncology department we are actively engaged in research, particularly with hCG and trophoblastic disease, and can provide clinical interpretative advice for the assays we provide.