Cancer remains one of the most formidable health challenges, responsible for 9.7 million deaths worldwide in 2022, according to the WHO. Despite advances in treatment, early detection continues to be a critical factor in improving survival rates. Now, a promising blood test is showing potential in detecting cancer years before symptoms develop. 
A groundbreaking study led by Dr. Yuxuan Wang and published in the *Cancer Discovery* journal has revealed that a multicancer early detection (MCED) test can identify cancer-related mutations in the blood long before a formal diagnosis is made.
The research team at Johns Hopkins analyzed 26 plasma samples from individuals diagnosed with cancer within six months of the sample collection. These samples were compared with another set of 26 samples from individuals who had not yet been diagnosed. Incredibly, 8 of these individuals scored positive for circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) on the MCED test, and all 8 received a formal diagnosis within just four months. This indicates that the test could serve as an early warning system for cancers yet to develop symptoms.
Furthermore, the team was able to examine earlier blood samples from 6 of these individuals, with dates stretching as far back as 3.5 years. Tumor-related mutations were already detectable in 4 of these cases, suggesting that the MCED test might identify cancerous changes in DNA up to three years before clinical symptoms arise.
While this breakthrough is promising, there are some important caveats. The MCED test is not yet approved by the FDA and can be quite expensive, with costs running into the hundreds of dollars. Additionally, it is typically not covered by medical insurance plans. The American Cancer Society also notes that a positive MCED result does not definitively confirm the presence of cancer. However, this research offers hope that these tests could become a valuable tool in the fight against cancer, provided further validation and regulatory approval.
Given the potential of MCED tests to detect cancer long before symptoms appear, should health insurers begin covering the cost of these tests even before they receive formal FDA approval? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.