Journal article
Multicancer early detection testing: Guidance for primary care discussions with patients
Cancer, Vol.131(7), e35823
04/01/2025
DOI: 10.1002/cncr.35823
PMCID: PMC11962340
PMID: 40170549
Appears in UI Libraries Support Open Access
Abstract
Multicancer early detection (MCED) tests are an emerging technology for cancer screening. MCED tests can detect cancer signals from multiple cancers concurrently in biological samples such as blood, urine, saliva, or other bodily fluids. Some tests can suggest the most likely cancer origin, whereas others report cancer detected somewhere in the body. Although some MCED tests are currently commercially available, none are approved by the Food and Drug Administration or endorsed by any clinical practice guideline or recommendation. Most insurance companies do not currently cover MCED testing. MCED tests have not yet been evaluated for safety and effectiveness in randomized controlled trials. Because patients already are asking for MCED test prescriptions or for interpretation of results from tests acquired elsewhere, clinicians should be prepared to discuss what is known about the benefits, risks, and uncertainties of MCED testing, including performance characteristics in screening populations and preferred follow‐up strategies for positive test results. At this time, clinicians should not feel obligated to initiate discussions about MCED testing with their patients. However, clinicians should engage patients who inquire about getting tested or previous MCED test results in shared decision‐making, and take the opportunity to offer and help patients complete age‐ and sex‐appropriate guideline‐recommended cancer screenings. In this article, the current evidence and issues around MCED testing are summarized, and a framework for shared decision‐making discussions is provided.
Clinicians should be aware of the potential benefits, harms, and uncertainties around the use of multicancer early detection (MCED) blood tests for cancer screening to inform discussions with patients who inquire about these tests. Discussions should also note that MCED tests have limited insurance coverage, and are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration or endorsed by professional society guidelines.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Multicancer early detection testing: Guidance for primary care discussions with patients
- Creators
- Richard M. Hoffman - Carver College of Medicine University of IowaAndrew M. D. Wolf - University of VirginiaSana Raoof - Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterCarmen E. Guerra - University of PennsylvaniaTimothy R. Church - University of MinnesotaElena B. Elkin - Columbia UniversityRuth D. Etzioni - University of WashingtonYa‐Chen Tina Shih - University of California, Los AngelesSteven J. Skates - Harvard Medical SchoolDeana Manassaram-Baptiste - American Cancer SocietyRobert A. Smith - American Cancer Society
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Cancer, Vol.131(7), e35823
- DOI
- 10.1002/cncr.35823
- PMID
- 40170549
- PMCID
- PMC11962340
- NLM abbreviation
- Cancer
- ISSN
- 0008-543X
- eISSN
- 1097-0142
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Grant note
- American Cancer Society Inc.American Cancer Society
The development of this article was supported by the American Cancer Society Inc. Members of the American Cancer Society Guideline Development Group serve as volunteers and receive no compensation from the American Cancer Society. Current members who participated in the drafting of the guidance document are Timothy R. Church PhD; Elena B. Elkin PhD; Ruth D. Etzioni PhD; Carmen E. Guerra MD, MSCE; Richard M. Hoffman MD, MPH; Sana Raoof MD, PhD; Ya-Chen Tina Shih PhD; Steven J. Skates PhD; and Andrew M. D. Wolf MD (Chair). We thank the group of expert advisors for their time and expertise given to reviewing the document: Chyke A. Doubeni MD, MPH; Robert J. Volk PhD; Richard C. Wender MD; and Larry G. Kessler ScD.
- Alternative title
- ACS 2024 guidance statement on MCED testing
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 04/01/2025
- Academic Unit
- General Internal Medicine; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984804804202771
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