Cancer continues to be the leading cause of death worldwide, partly due to late detection of the disease. However, a recently published study suggests that a simple blood test may be able to identify many cancers in their early stages.
In addition to early detection, a study by biotechnology company GRAIL showed that its Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) test also found cancers in organs that are not routinely screened. The test, known as Galleri, detected cancer signals in 216 people, 133 of whom were found to actually have cancer. The study also found that the test accurately predicted the origin of cancer 92% of the time.
Changes in cancer screening options
Many of the most serious cancers are not screened for and tend to be discovered until it is too late. However, if tumors are caught early, they are more treatable and may even be curable.
There are now a variety of established cancer screening methods, including mammograms, Pap tests, colonoscopies, and prostate and lung tests.
The FDA has not yet approved the Galleri MCED test method. Further research is currently underway.
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Cancer DNA can be detected in the bloodstream
The goal of the Galeri MCED test, a type of liquid biopsy, is to identify cancer cells at an early stage, long before symptoms appear. These tests use DNA and protein profiles and use machine learning algorithms to identify probable causes of cancer.
How does a liquid biopsy detect cancer?
After a blood sample is collected, the lab uses state-of-the-art technology and equipment to analyze the DNA. If any abnormalities are found, further inspection will be performed. Armed with this molecular data, doctors may be able to offer targeted treatments that are more likely to be effective.
MCED test status
Although some are available as laboratory-developed tests, the FDA has not yet approved any multicancer early detection (MCED) testing methods. The FDA has granted many MCED tests “Breakthrough Device Designation,” which speeds development and review but is not the same as FDA approval, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Contributed by David Oliver/USA TODAY
Sources GRAIL, Nature, American Cancer Society, PLOS, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, National Institutes of Health, USA TODAY study
