Blood Test Breakthrough: Catching Cancer Years Earlier

Scientists are making strides in cancer detection, potentially allowing for diagnosis and treatment years before symptoms arise. This new research focuses on identifying minute genetic clues in the bloodstream, offering a chance to intervene when tumors are less advanced.

Early Detection: A Critical Advantage

The capacity to find cancer early can greatly improve the chances of successful treatment and recovery. American researchers have demonstrated that analyzing blood biomarkers may reveal tumors over three years before a formal diagnosis is even made.

The Science Behind the Test

The research centers on minuscule pieces of genetic material released by tumors. If a reliable analysis method detecting these DNA signatures can be widely implemented, earlier cancer detection becomes a real possibility.

“Three years earlier provides time for intervention,”

—Yuxuan Wang, Oncology Researcher, Johns Hopkins University

The team examined blood samples from 26 participants in a large health study. These individuals received a cancer diagnosis within six months of their blood sample collection. The researchers then compared these samples to blood taken from 26 other individuals who did not develop cancer.

The test, in essence, scrutinized circulating tumor DNA, known as ctDNA. Using a blend of algorithms and various cross-checks, modifications connected to tumors could be spotted, even if they were rare.

Promising Results and Future Steps

For eight of the 52 study participants, the multi-cancer early detection (MCED) test developed by the researchers flagged cancer. This suggests that the blood analysis identified almost 31 percent of those who later received a cancer diagnosis.

Blood samples from three years prior were available for six of these eight individuals. In four of those six, cancer could be detected. The same DNA fragments from tumors had appeared, at levels nearly 80 times lower than those identified by the MCED test.

However, more work is needed. As samples go further back in time, the levels of detectable ctDNA decrease. To spot cancer up to three years in advance, more sensitive blood tests are needed. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2024, there will be an estimated 2 million new cancer cases diagnosed in the United States (American Cancer Society).

“This study shows the promise of MCED tests in detecting cancers very early, and sets the benchmark sensitivities required for their success,”

—Bert Vogelstein, Oncology Researcher, Ludwig Center at Johns Hopkins

Scientists are working diligently to discover methods to detect cancer early, including blood tests. Yet, successfully navigating trials and regulatory approvals remains challenging.

The Road Ahead

Despite the challenges, there are grounds for optimism. Every new study demonstrating early cancer diagnosis contributes to our understanding of cancer’s origins and how it can be identified in its early stages. In addition to this, progress in cancer treatments, including those that can target multiple cancer types, provides good reason to believe that survival rates will continue to rise.

“Detecting cancers years before their clinical diagnosis could help provide management with a more favorable outcome,”

—Nickolas Papadopoulos, Oncology Researcher, Ludwig Center

The research has been published in Cancer Discovery.