A revamped version of the SimpleScreen CRC blood test is getting better at spotting precancerous colorectal lesions. The updated test raised sensitivity for advanced precancerous lesions from 13.7% to 18.2%, with the biggest jump seen in high-grade dysplasia detection. Researchers say the improvement could reduce colorectal cancer incidence and mortality by 9.5%, and an FDA submission is planned.
A next-generation version of the SimpleScreen CRC blood-based screening test is showing meaningful — if incremental — improvements in detecting advanced precancerous colorectal lesions. Presented at the ACG Annual Scientific Meeting, data from the large PREEMPT CRC trial showed the updated test raised sensitivity for advanced precancerous lesions from 13.7% to 18.2%, while keeping overall colorectal cancer (CRC) sensitivity stable at around 80%.
The biggest gain was in detection of high-grade dysplasia — the most concerning precancerous state — which jumped by 11.5 percentage points. The research team, led by NYU's Dr. Aasma Shaukat, applied assay and algorithm upgrades to the existing FDA-approved test and validated results across 9,001 average-risk adults.
Why it matters: Blood-based CRC screening is a non-invasive alternative that could boost participation in screening programs. These incremental gains in precancerous lesion detection — where early intervention has the greatest impact — bring the test closer to being a truly effective first-line screening tool. An FDA submission for the updated version is already in the works.
