Joshua Cohen in Undark Magazine:
An emerging technology seeks to help revolutionize the world of cancer diagnosis: Multi-cancer early detection tests aim to spot signals for different types of cancer from a single blood draw or other body fluid sample. Also known as a specific type of liquid biopsy, MCED tests look for abnormalities that may indicate cancer, like circulating tumor DNA; some tests can indicate the likely origin of a cancer, while others may merely show that cancer could be present without identifying a probable type or location. A key advantage of MCEDs, supporters say, is their potential to identify cancers at earlier, more treatable stages. As such, they may help save lives.
Industry tests show some promise: In simulation model research funded by Exact Sciences — a Wisconsin-based company that developed an MCED called Cancerguard — supplemental MCED testing led to an increase in Stage I, II, and III diagnoses (by 10, 20, and 34 percent, respectively). Stage IV diagnoses, meanwhile, decreased by nearly half. The authors — some of whom are listed as employees of Exact Sciences — suggested that this shows MCED testing could catch cancer before it’s at its most advanced stages, particularly for cancer types that lack routine screening.
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