New Blood Test Shows Promise in Early Detection of Over โฃ50 Cancers
WASHINGTON – A groundbreaking newโ bloodโ test โฃis demonstrating theโ potential to detect more than 50 typesโ of cancer in their early stages, even before symptoms โคappear, โขaccording to research published in Nature and ongoing studies. While not yet โwidely available or fully approved, the โmulti-cancer earlyโ detection (MCED) test represents a significant leap forward in cancerโค screening and could dramatically improveโข survival rates.
Currently, many cancers are diagnosed โat later stages, when treatment options are moreโฃ limited and outcomes are โคless favorable. This new test analyzes circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) – fragments ofโ genetic materialโข shed by cancer cells intoโฃ the bloodstream – offering a less invasive choice โฃto customary screening methodsโข like colonoscopies or mammograms. The technology aims to identify cancer signals across a broad โrange of tumor types,potentiallyโข catching the โdisease when it’s most treatable.
The test works by analyzing a blood sample for molecular patterns indicative of โcancer.Labs utilize advanced techniques to examine the DNA, and any anomalies detected are further โคinvestigated. This molecular data can then informโฃ doctors about potential targeted treatments, which โคmay prove more effective than standard approaches. Two infographics detail the process: /PNR8mVmW0RyUDBw8DVUO”>https://infogram.com//PNR8mVmW0RyUDBw8DVUO.
A large-scale โstudy of the Galleri test,โ conducted by GRAIL, involved over 5,000 participants and showed the ability to predict which individuals would be diagnosed with cancer within a year. While the test isn’t designed to replace existing cancer screenings, researchers envision it as an additional layer of โคprotection, โnotably for cancers โlacking routine screening protocols. โ
However,the MCED testing landscape is still evolving. Currently,no MCED tests have received full approval from theโข Food and Drug Administration (FDA),though several have been โคgranted “Breakthrough Device Designation” โto expedite their development andโ review. This designationโข accelerates the process โขtoward potential FDA clearance, but does not guarantee it, according to โthe National Institutes of Health.โ
The research draws on data fromโ GRAIL, Nature, the American Cancer Society, PLOS, The university of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and USA TODAYโข research.
