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From Combination Early Detection to Multicancer Testing: Shifting Cancer Care toward Proactive Prevention and
Adriana Albini1, Dario Trapani2,3, Francesco Bertolini4
1Scientific Directorate, European Institute of Oncology (IEO), Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, Italy.
Cancer Prevention Research (Philadelphia, Pa.)
|July 7, 2025
Summary
Early cancer detection using multi-cancer early detection (MCED) assays and molecular profiling enables proactive prevention strategies. This integrated approach moves beyond single-cancer screening for improved outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Preventive Medicine
Background:
- Early tumor detection and understanding cancer development are crucial for effective prevention.
- Molecular profiling identifies genetic, epigenetic, immune, and microenvironmental alterations linked to cancer risk.
- Liquid biopsy and metagenome analysis offer non-invasive methods for detecting cancer biomarkers and gut microbiota imbalances.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore advancements in multi-cancer early detection (MCED) assays for proactive cancer interception.
- To highlight the integration of diverse biological signals beyond genomics for comprehensive risk assessment.
- To emphasize the shift towards mechanism-based, multidimensional screening for personalized cancer prevention.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing molecular profiling to detect alterations in genetic, epigenetic, immune, and microenvironmental factors.
- Employing liquid biopsy for non-invasive analysis of circulating tumor cells, nucleic acids, and other biomarkers.
- Integrating data from multiple sources, including metagenome analysis and clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP), with artificial intelligence.
Main Results:
- MCED assays capture signals from multiple malignancies in a single blood sample, going beyond genomics to include immune and metabolic shifts.
- Analysis of combined cancer drivers and enablers provides sensitive, personalized measures of cancer prodromic profiles.
- Artificial intelligence aids in integrating diverse data for individualized cancer risk profiling.
Conclusions:
- A multidimensional approach to early detection and interception advances practical clinical goals in cancer prevention.
- Integrated, mechanism-based screening fosters a proactive prevention model, moving beyond single-cancer detection.
- Empowering cancer interception through lifestyle modification, nutritional optimization, and targeted interventions is facilitated by these advanced detection methods.
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