The new generation of cancer early detection tests holds remarkable promise for revolutionizing and changing the paradigm of cancer early detection. Dozens of cancer early detection tests are being developed and evaluated. Some are already commercialized and available for use, most as a complement to and not in place of existing recommended cancer screening tests. This review evaluates existing single- and multi-cancer early detection tests (MCEDs), discussing their performance characteristics including sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and accuracy. It also critically looks at the potential harms that could result from these tests, including false positive and negative results, the risk of overdiagnosis and overtreatment, psychological and economic harms, and the risk of widening cancer inequities. We also review the large-scale, population-based studies that are being launched in the United States and United Kingdom to determine the impact of MCEDs on clinically relevant outcomes and implications for current practice. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Medicine, Volume 75 is January 2024. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

Multi-Cancer Early Detection: The New Frontier in Cancer Early Detection.

Background and Objective Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality and constitutes a significant societal burden. Recent advancements in targeted therapies and immunotherapy have considerably broadened therapeutic options in lung cancer, particularly in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, these novel methods necessitate sophisticated molecular diagnostics. Liquid biopsy, which refers to the cytological and molecular analysis of cancer markers shed by the tumor into the body fluids, may offer an attractive diagnostic tool at the individual patient level. This approach is particularly relevant for lung cancer, as the anatomical location of tumor lesions frequently makes them inaccessible for tissue biopsy. Apart from minimal invasiveness, the major advantages of liquid biopsy include better reflection of the tumor clonal heterogeneity (spatial heterogeneity), the possibility of sequential sampling, and real-time monitoring of tumor load and its evolving mutational status (temporal heterogeneity). Methods This article reviews the available data in this field, current applications, and future perspectives in accordance with the Narrative Review reporting rules. Key Content and Findings We discuss the most used approaches, i.e., circulating DNA and tumor cells, but also emerging liquid biopsy techniques, such as plasma DNA methylation, plasma metabolites and RNA, extracellular vesicles, and tumor-educated platelets in NSCLC. Finally, we highlight the current limitations of liquid biopsy techniques hampering their clinical applications. Conclusions Due to their advantages, liquid biopsy-based approaches have recently gained immense interest in oncology. Potential applications of this method include early detection, informing precision medicine-based individualized treatment, and real-time monitoring of disease evolution and treatment. The development of next-generation sequencing has vastly extended genetic profiling, thus enabling better identification of druggable alterations. However, the clinical application of liquid biopsy techniques is still limited due to their suboptimal specificity and sensitivity, lack of standardization, and relatively high costs. Addressing these issues may allow further integration of liquid biopsies in the routine clinical setting, thus making a profound and permanent change in NSCLC management.

/pdf/current-and-future-applications-of-liquid-biopsy-in-non-2lwss9om.pdf

Current and future applications of liquid biopsy in non-small-cell lung cancer—a narrative review

Systemic treatment of resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is evolving with emerging neoadjuvant, perioperative, and adjuvant immunotherapy approaches. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) detection at clinical diagnosis, during neoadjuvant therapy, or after resection may discern high-risk patients who might benefit from therapy escalation or switch. This Review summarizes translational implications of data supporting ctDNA-based risk determination in NSCLC and outstanding questions regarding ctDNA validity/utility as a prognostic biomarker. We discuss emerging ctDNA capabilities to refine clinical tumor–node–metastasis (TNM) staging in lung adenocarcinoma, ctDNA dynamics during neoadjuvant therapy for identifying patients deriving suboptimal benefit, and postoperative molecular residual disease (MRD) detection to escalate systemic therapy. Considering differential relapse characteristics in landmark MRD-negative/MRD-positive patients, we propose how ctDNA might integrate with pathological response data for optimal postoperative risk stratification. 

Implementing circulating tumor DNA as a prognostic biomarker in resectable non-small cell lung cancer

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA, DNA shed by cancer cells) is emerging as one of the most transformative cancer biomarkers discovered to-date. Although potentially useful at all the phases of cancer detection and patient management, one of its most exciting possibilities is as a relatively noninvasive pan-cancer screening test. Preliminary findings with ctDNA tests such as Galleri or CancerSEEK suggest that they have high specificity (> 99.0%) for malignancy. Their sensitivity varies depending on the type of cancer and stage of disease but it is generally low in patients with stage I disease. A major advantage of ctDNA over existing screening strategies is the potential ability to detect multiple cancer types in a single test. A limitation of most studies published to-date is that they are predominantly case-control investigations that were carried out in patients with a previous diagnosis of malignancy and that used apparently healthy subjects as controls. Consequently, the reported sensitivities, specificities and positive predictive values might be lower if the tests are used for screening in asymptomatic populations, that is, in the population where these tests are likely be employed. To demonstrate clinical utility in an asymptomatic population, these tests must be shown to reduce cancer mortality without causing excessive overdiagnosis in a large randomized prospective randomized trial. Such trials are currently ongoing for Galleri and CancerSEEK.

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA): can it be used as a pan-cancer early detection test?

INTRODUCTION
Methylated circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) blood tests for BCAT1/IKZF1 (COLVERA) and SEPT9 (Epi proColon) are used to detect colorectal cancer (CRC). However, there are no ctDNA assays approved for other gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas. We aimed to characterize BCAT1, IKZF1 and SEPT9 methylation in different gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma and non-gastrointestinal tumours to determine if these validated CRC biomarkers might be useful for pan-gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma detection.


METHODS
Tissue DNA methylation data from colorectal (COAD, READ), gastroesophageal (ESCA, STAD), pancreatic (PAAD) and cholangiocarcinoma (CHOL) adenocarcinoma cohorts within The Cancer Genome Atlas were used for differential methylation analyses. Clinicodemographic predictors of BCAT1, IKZF1 and SEPT9 methylation, and the selectivity of hypermethylated BCAT1, IKZF1 and SEPT9 for colorectal adenocarcinomas in comparison to other cancers were each explored with beta regression.


RESULTS
Hypermethylated BCAT1, IKZF1 and SEPT9 were each differentially methylated in colorectal and gastroesophageal adenocarcinomas. IKZF1 was differentially methylated in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Hypermethylated DNA biomarkers BCAT1, IKZF1 and SEPT9 were largely stable across different stages of disease and were highly selective for gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas relative to other cancer types.


DISCUSSION
Existing CRC methylated ctDNA blood tests for BCAT1/IKZF1 and SEPT9 might be usefully repurposed for use in other gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas and warrant further prospective ctDNA studies.

BCAT1, IKZF1 and SEPT9: methylated DNA biomarkers for detection of pan-gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas.

TPS6606 Background: Cancer is a leading cause of premature death globally. Early detection can reduce cancer mortality by reducing the number of cancers diagnosed at a late stage. A blood-based MCED test (Galleri) was developed that can detect cancer signals and predict cancer origin with a single blood draw. The NHS-Galleri trial is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) assessing the clinical utility of this MCED test in a targeted screening population alongside current screening programs. Screening adherence is lower among certain individuals (eg, those with lower socioeconomic status), despite healthcare being free at the point of access in England. NHS-Galleri utilizes innovative strategies to optimize equity in study recruitment, with the goal of enrolling a representative sample. Methods: This pragmatic, blinded RCT is currently enrolling 140,000 asymptomatic participants by inviting ̃1.3 million residents aged 50-77 in select postcodes of England via the NHS DigiTrials service. Regions were selected to include areas of high cancer mortality, socioeconomic deprivation, and ethnic diversity; eligible participants will be identified from these regions. A variety of methods are employed to enroll a representative study population (defined as including a reasonable number of participants from all socioeconomic statuses and all major ethnic minority groups). These methods include the use of mobile phlebotomy clinics that facilitate access in economically deprived areas, monitoring of participant representativeness by postcode with dynamic adjustment of enrollment, providing interpreters and wheelchair accessibility, and targeted local campaigns. Blood will be collected at 3 annual visits (baseline, year 1, year 2) unless cancer is diagnosed. After baseline blood collection, participants will be randomized 1:1 to the intervention (blood sample analyzed by the MCED test) or control (blood sample stored for potential future MCED testing) arm. Only participants in the intervention arm with “cancer signal detected” will have results returned and be referred for investigations and possible treatment. Participants in the intervention arm without “cancer signal detected” and all in the control arm will remain blinded and return for annual visits. All participants will be reminded to continue guideline-based screening and report unusual/concerning symptoms to a doctor. The primary study objective is a significant reduction in the absolute numbers of stage III & IV cancers diagnosed in the intervention versus control arm 3.5 years after randomization. Cancer-specific mortality will be assessed during trial follow-up. Exploratory endpoints include assessing the primary objective by participant age, gender, socioeconomic status, and ethnicity. Clinical trial information: ISRCTN91431511.

NHS-Galleri Trial Design: Equitable study recruitment tactics for targeted population-level screening with a multi-cancer early detection (MCED) test.

Clinical referral to the NHS following multi-cancer early detection test results from the NHS-Galleri trial

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NHS-Galleri Trial Design: Equitable study recruitment tactics for targeted population-level screening with a multi-cancer early detection (MCED) test.

Clinical referral to the NHS following multi-cancer early detection test results from the NHS-Galleri trial