One blood test can detect over 50 types of cancer

Researchers are one step closer to making a multi-cancer early detection (MCED) test, that can detect over 50 types of cancer

[July 20, 2022: Eric A. Klein]

Study findings confirm that the test is proficient in detecting and classifying cell-free DNA (cfDNA). (CREDIT: Creative Commons)

Researchers are one step closer to making a multi-cancer early detection (MCED) test, that can detect over 50 types of cancer, available to select candidates: those who are age 50 and older, asymptomatic, and considered high risk for the disease.

Findings from the third and final phase of the Circulating Cell-free Genome Atlas (CCGA) study have been published in the Annals of Oncology.

Study findings confirm that the test is proficient in detecting and classifying cell-free DNA (cfDNA), or tumor byproducts deposited in the bloodstream of a person with cancer. The test can also identify the site of the originating tumor, even in patients with no cancer-related symptoms.

A new cancer screening paradigm

Eric A. Klein, MD, first author of the paper and Chairman Emeritus of the Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute, says these findings corroborate those of a previous CCGA sub-study, but at a larger scale and with an independent validation set. He says these results set the stage for a new cancer screening paradigm.

“With the multi-cancer early detection tests, we have the opportunity to diagnose and treat cancer earlier. Used alongside other screening modalities, this could significantly reduce cancer-related deaths,” he says. For some high-mortality cancers – including liver, pancreatic and esophageal – this is the first screening test available.


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Currently, only five cancer screening tests are available for patients in the United States; this includes tests for prostate, lung, breast, colorectal and cervical cancers. They each have limitations, including varying levels of invasiveness, discrepancies in use across clinical practice and high false-positive rates, which can lead to overdiagnosis and overtreatment.

The promise of this new assay is raising hopes that a new paradigm is afoot. It can detect the presence of circulating cfDNA through a single blood draw and is particularly effective when it comes to identifying more lethal and later-stage cancers, believed to have more cfDNA. However, this also underscores the importance of combining the MCED with existing screening tests until further refinements are made. “Prostate cancer, for example, sheds comparatively less DNA than other tumors, making it less likely to be detected by the novel assay,” explains Dr. Klein, a urologic oncologist.

How does it work? A genomic sequencing technology elucidates methylation, or chemical changes in the DNA that control gene expression, coupled with a machine learning application that systematically identifies patterns of irregularities in the DNA indicative of cancer. These patterns provide evidence as to where the cancer orginated and can help guide further diagnostic testing.

GRAIL, Inc. a California-based biotech company, developed the assay and has funded international research efforts. The MCED test is now available in the United States by prescription only.

Key findings

The study evaluated the performance of the test in two cohorts: individuals already diagnosed with cancer (n = 2,823) and those without a cancer diagnosis (n = 1,254). It detected cancer signals from more than 50 types of cancer across all four stages of disease.

  • The test’s overall sensitivity across cancer types and stages was 51.5%; sensitivity increased with each stage – the more advanced the disease, the more sensitive the test.

  • The average rate of sensitivity in cancers stages I – III was 67.6% in 12 pre-specified cancers (anal, bladder, bowel, esophageal, stomach, head and neck, liver and bile-duct, lung, lymphoma, ovarian, pancreatic, and cancers associated with white blood cells), which account for almost two-thirds of cancer-related deaths in the US.

  • The test’s specificity (also known as false-positive rate) was 99.5%, meaning that it found a false signal for cancer in only 0.5% of those tested.

  • In 88.7% of cases, the test correctly identifies the tissue in which the cancer was located, which could help decrease the time to diagnosis and allow physicians to facilitate treatment with greater efficiency.

A population-based screening tool?

Dr. Klein says the team is satisfied with the promising findings; they are hopeful that this technology could be extrapolated as a tool for cancer screening at a population level.

In fall 2020, Cleveland Clinic announced that it would begin enrollment for its arm of the PATHFINDER study, of which Dr. Klein is the principal investigator. He explains that the strength of the CCGA study is its robust assessment of the assay itself. The PATHFINDER study, however, is intended to evaluate the care pathways from a cancer “signal detected” test in a primary care setting to arriving at a diagnostic resolution with a cancer specialist.

“We can say with confidence that the multi-cancer early detection test has clinical utility. We still don’t know the implications for its use in a more generalizable patient population, but the results are very promising.”

The 50+ types of cancers tested:

1. Adrenal Cortical Carcinoma

2. Ampulla of Vater

3. Anus

4. Appendix, Carcinoma

5. Bile Ducts, Distal

6. Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic

7. Bile Ducts, Perihilar

8. Bladder, Urinary

9. Bone

10. Breast

11. Cervix

12. Colon and Rectum

13. Esophagus and Esophagogastric Junction

14. Gallbladder

15. Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor

16. Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasms

17. Kidney

18. Larynx

19. Leukemia

20. Liver

21. Lung

22. Lymphoma (Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin)

23. Melanoma of the Skin

24. Mesothelioma, Malignant Pleural

25. Merkel Cell Carcinoma

26. Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinuses

The 50+ types of cancers tested (cont.):

27. Nasopharynx

28. Neuroendocrine Tumors of the Appendix

29. Neuroendocrine Tumors of the Colon and Rectum

30. Neuroendocrine Tumors of the Pancreas

31. Oral Cavity

32. Oropharynx (HPV-Mediated, p16+)

33. Oropharynx (p16-) and Hypopharynx

34. Ovary, Fallopian Tube and Primary Peritoneum

35. Pancreas, exocrine

36. Penis

37. Plasma Cell Myeloma and Plasma Cell Disorders

38. Prostate

39. Small Intestine

40. Soft Tissue Sarcoma of the Abdomen and Thoracic Visceral Organs

41. Soft Tissue Sarcoma of the Head and Neck

42. Soft Tissue Sarcoma of the Retroperitoneum

43. Soft Tissue Sarcoma of the Trunk and Extremities

44. Soft Tissue Sarcoma Unusual Histologies and Sites

45. Stomach

46. Testis

47. Uterus, Carcinoma and Carcinosarcoma

48. Uterus, Sarcoma

49. Ureter (and Renal Pelvis)

50. Vagina

51. Vulva


Note: Materials provided above by Eric A. Klein. Content may be edited for style and length.

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Joseph Shavit
Joseph ShavitSpace, Technology and Medical News Writer
Joseph Shavit is the head science news writer with a passion for communicating complex scientific discoveries to a broad audience. With a strong background in both science, business, product management, media leadership and entrepreneurship, Joseph possesses the unique ability to bridge the gap between business and technology, making intricate scientific concepts accessible and engaging to readers of all backgrounds.