A simple blood test can detect 50 types of cancer

Nowadays, there are well-known methods for the early detection of several types of cancer, such as mammography for the breast, Pap test for the cervix, colonoscopy for the colon, or tests for the prostate and lungs.

But scientists are developing a new test that could revolutionize diagnosis: a blood test that can detect up to 50 different types of cancer, long before symptoms appear, it has reported. USA Today.

What is the Galleri MCED test?

This test, known as the MCED (Multi-Cancer Early Detection) Gallery, is a type of liquid biopsy that aims to identify signs of cancer in the blood at the earliest stages.

It works by analyzing DNA and proteins circulating in the blood, which can indicate whether a tumor is developing somewhere in the body. Through artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms, the test also attempts to determine the likely location of the cancer in the body.

"The goal is to catch cancer before it has shown any clinical signs," explain the researchers working with this method.

How does “liquid biopsy” work?

After taking a blood sample, the laboratory analyzes the DNA with highly advanced technology. If abnormalities are detected, they are studied in more detail to see if they are linked to any type of cancer.
This molecular analysis, combined with computer classifiers, shows great potential for identifying tissues of origin and for detecting many other types of cancer.

"With this molecular data, the doctor can propose more targeted and effective treatments," the scientific summary of the study states.

Is the test already approved?

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the US, no MCED test has yet been approved by the FDA (US Food and Drug Administration). Some versions are only available as tests developed in private laboratories, but have not yet received official authorization for widespread use.

However, the FDA has granted several MCED tests “Breakthrough Device Designation,” meaning that their development and evaluation process is being accelerated because of their great potential to save lives. This status does not mean approval, but it is an important step toward it.