Multicancer Detection Tests for Screening : A Systematic Review

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40953446/ Multicancer screening tests are an emerging, minimally invasive approach to detect multiple cancers using biomarkers from a single blood sample. While these tests have not been FDA approved, some are commercially available as laboratory-developed tests, bypassing the approval process. Despite their growing popularity, an AHRQ-commissioned review of existing evidence—published on the AHRQ Effective Health Care website and in the Annals of Internal Medicine—has found that these tests have not been studied sufficiently to prove that they help people without visible symptoms feel better or avoid more advanced cancer. Studies reporting on the accuracy of 19 different tests had serious flaws that could make tests look more accurate than they are. Studies that followed asymptomatic people over time suggested that screening accuracy ranged widely from 7 percent to 71 percent, which suggests a risk of many false positives that could lead to unnecessary treatment and radiation exposure. While no existing controlled study has reported screening effectiveness, some ongoing trials may be completed within 2 to 4 years. Blood-Based Tests for Multiple Cancer Screening: A Systematic Review https://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/products/cell-free-dna/research