Doctors from the USA and Canada tested a new Multi-Cancer Early Detection Test (MCED). According to the results of a study published in the journal Nature Medicine, a blood test revealed so-called cancer signals in cell-free DNA – signs of the presence of a particular tumor – 17 broad types of oncology, including breast, lung and colorectal cancer.
More than 35 thousand adult patients over 50 years old took part in the experiment. As the study authors noted, the predictive value of the new diagnostic method was 60.3%. Of the 287 participants who tested positive, 173 were subsequently confirmed to have cancer. 151 patients were diagnosed with a new primary cancer, more than half of them at stage 1 or 2.
“At the time of this analysis, no serious adverse events associated with the study were reported. These results provide insight into the performance and safety of the MCED test in the population,” the scientific publication emphasizes.
More than 70% of the cases detected by the test involved types of cancer for which there are no generally accepted standards for early diagnosis in the United States, the team of authors added.
“This study helps us better understand how a multicancer blood test can complement existing screening approaches by identifying cancers that might otherwise go undetected by conventional screening,” lead author Karthik Giridhar said in a Mayo Clinic press release.
The scientist added that MCED tests are not yet ready to completely replace traditional screening methods. Instead, they can complement existing approaches and help expand understanding of the cancer detection process. Randomized trials and longer follow-up are needed to evaluate the clinical utility of the MCED test, the scientific publication clarifies.
