New Blood Test Can Detect 50+ Cancers

ISLAMABAD: The study followed 25,000 adults over the course of a year and found that the test successfully identified a wide range of cancers, including several that currently lack standard screening methods.

Known as the Galleri test, the experimental tool detects fragments of cancerous DNA circulating in the blood. It was developed by US-based biotech company Grail and is already being tested in a separate trial by the UK’s National Health Service (NHS).

Early Detection and Accuracy

The test identified more than half of the cancers at early stages, when treatment tends to be more effective. Notably, three-quarters of the cancers detected in the trial were types for which no established screening programs exist, including ovarian, pancreatic, liver, stomach, and bladder cancers.

Read more: Afghanistan says keen to enhance relations with India

Among those who tested positive, 62 percent were later confirmed to have cancer. In 90 percent of those confirmed cases, the test also accurately pinpointed the cancer’s location. Furthermore, it correctly ruled out cancer in over 99 percent of those who tested negative.

A Potential Shift in Cancer Screening

Lead researcher Dr. Nima Nabavizadeh, a radiation medicine expert at Oregon Health & Science University, said the findings suggest the test could bring a significant shift in cancer detection by identifying disease earlier, when outcomes are generally better.

When combined with existing screening tools for breast, bowel, lung, and cervical cancers, the Galleri test increased overall cancer detection sevenfold.

Caution From Experts

While the early results are promising, some experts say more evidence is needed before the test can be widely adopted. Professor Clare Turnbull of The Institute of Cancer Research in London stressed the importance of randomized studies that show whether early detection through this method actually reduces cancer deaths.

A larger NHS trial involving 140,000 people in England is ongoing, with results expected in 2026. If the findings support its effectiveness, the NHS has said the test could eventually be offered to up to one million people.

Mixed Reactions

Sir Harpal Kumar, president of biopharma at Grail, called the findings “very compelling” in an interview with BBC Radio 4, noting that most cancer deaths occur because diagnoses are made too late.

However, Naser Turabi from Cancer Research UK cautioned against rushing to conclusions, highlighting the risk of overdiagnosing cancers that may not have caused harm. He added that the UK National Screening Committee will ultimately decide whether the test should be adopted within the NHS.

The key findings will be presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress in Berlin. Full trial data have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.