Liquid Biopsy Test to Enable Earlier Diagnosis of Numerous Cancer Types

Routine screening currently covers only a handful of cancers, leaving most cases detected after symptoms appear—often at advanced stages when outcomes are poorer. A new study now suggests that adding a multi-cancer early detection blood test to standard care could significantly reduce late-stage diagnoses and help more patients begin treatment earlier.

In the study, researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston, MA, USA) used epidemiological data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program to evaluate Cancerguard, an early detection assay from Exact Sciences (Madison, WI, USA).

The team built a simulation of 14 cancer types that together account for nearly 80% of cancer incidence and mortality. The model followed 5 million U.S. adults aged 50 to 84 over 10 years, comparing standard care with the addition of an annual multi-cancer early detection blood test.

The projections showed a clear shift toward earlier-stage diagnoses. Over 10 years, stage I cancers increased by 10%, stage II by 20%, and stage III by 30%, while stage IV diagnoses fell by 45%. The biggest absolute decrease in late-stage disease occurred in lung, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers, whereas cervical, liver, and colorectal cancers saw the highest relative reductions.

These findings, published by Wiley online in CANCER, suggest that a simple annual blood test could move a significant portion of cancers into stages where treatment is more effective, potentially improving survival and reducing healthcare costs over time.

Related Links:
Massachusetts General Hospital
Exact Sciences