A Blood Test Could One Day Detect Over 50 Types of Cancer — What That Means for Cancer Care
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New tests claim to detect more than 50 types of cancer from a single blood sample, but more research is still needed.
Rosie McCall is a London-based freelance writer who frequently contributes to Discover Magazine, specializing in science, health, and the environment.View Full Profile. What if you could detect early-stage cancer with a single blood test? A new screening tool claims to do exactly that by picking up abnormal DNA fragments circulating in the bloodstream.
According to the manufacturer, the blood sample could be used to detect more than 50 types of cancer, including breast, prostate, and lung — the three leading cancers in the U.S., according to the National Cancer Institute. If successful, it has the potential to shake up cancer care, resulting in better outcomes for patients. After all, the earlier a cancer is detected, the higher the likelihood that treatment will be successful.
However, the results of trials to date have been mixed. This is what we know about the test so far and what it could mean for cancer screening moving forward. Traditionally, screenings focus on one particular type of cancer, whether that is a Pap smear for cervical cancer, a PSA test for prostate cancer, or a mammogram for breast cancer.
Add to that, there are only a handful of different cancers for which standard screening tests are available in the first place. According to the American Cancer Society, almost half of cancers diagnosed in the U.S. are cancers that have no recommended screening test.
The Galleri ® multi-cancer early detection (MCED) test, or simply Galleri ® blood test, claims to detect more than 50 types of cancers and works by identifying atypical DNA fragments in the blood. This is because cancer cells, like all cells, release DNA fragments after they die. Those from cancer cells display a distinctive pattern or fingerprint, which is picked up during the test.
And because the specific pattern or fingerprint provides clues to its origin, it may even be possible to identify the origin of any cancer present. A positive result would require additional testing to confirm whether or not it is a “true positive” and to issue an official diagnosis.
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