Multicancer early detection tests — keeping a high bar for evidence of benefit

22 July 2024

A new commentary article on multicancer early detection tests from a scientist in the Genomic Epidemiology Branch at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has been published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Multicancer early detection tests are emerging technologies that aim to identify cancer earlier via a blood test. The author of the commentary, Dr Hilary Robbins, considers arguments for and against the use of these tests, including their potential to detect many cancer types and their relative simplicity for the patient but also their costs and potential harms. The commentary discusses the shift that has occurred when evaluating the efficacy of these tests, away from demonstrating that they reduce cancer mortality and towards other end-points, such as reducing the rate of late-stage cancers.

Robbins HA.
Multicancer early detection tests — keeping a high bar for evidence of benefit
N Engl J Med, Published online 20 July 2024;
https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMp2400297

Read the commentary