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A large prospective study of nearly 36,000 adults found that a blood-based multicancer early detection (MCED) test correctly identified cancer signals with 99.64% specificity and a 60.3% positive predictive value. The test also pinpointed the cancer's origin with 91.3% accuracy. Researchers say it could help close a major gap — cancers without existing screening tools account for up to 70% of U.S. cancer deaths.
A large U.S. study published in Nature Medicine is offering fresh evidence that a blood-based multicancer early detection (MCED) test could meaningfully expand cancer screening beyond the handful of cancers we currently test for. The PATHFINDER 2 trial enrolled nearly 36,000 adults aged 50 and older with no clinical suspicion of cancer — and the results are turning heads.
The test demonstrated a specificity of 99.64% and a positive predictive value (PPV) of 60.3%, meaning that when the test flagged cancer, it was right about 60% of the time. It also predicted the cancer's tissue of origin with 91.3% accuracy — a critical feature for guiding follow-up diagnostics. Importantly, only 0.6% of participants ended up needing invasive procedures after a positive result, and 90.5% of those were nonsurgical.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: Only 5 cancers currently have standard screening tests, yet cancers without screening options account for up to 70% of U.S. cancer deaths. An accurate, minimally invasive blood test that casts a wider net could be a game-changer for early detection — when treatment is most effective.
