[Expert consensus on liquid biopsy-based multi-cancer early detection (2025 edition)]

Area of Science:

• Oncology and Public Health
• Biomarker Discovery
• Translational Medicine

Background:

• Cancer remains a major global health issue, with current screening limited to specific types and often invasive.
• Traditional screening methods face challenges in accuracy, patient compliance, and limited cancer coverage.
• Early detection is crucial for reducing cancer mortality, highlighting the need for improved screening strategies.

Framework:

• Multi-cancer early detection (MCED) utilizes liquid biopsy to analyze biomarkers (e.g., cell-free DNA, RNA, proteins) in bodily fluids.
• This approach enables non-invasive detection of multiple cancer types simultaneously.
• MCED broadens the scope of detectable cancers and improves population coverage for screening.

Implementation:

• This expert consensus reviews advancements in liquid biopsy-based MCED technologies.
• It covers biomarker selection, detection methods, and criteria for choosing target cancer types.
• The document also addresses research design, clinical utility evaluation, and pathways for MCED implementation.

Implications:

• MCED holds immense potential to revolutionize current cancer screening paradigms.
• Scientific guidance is provided to foster further research and promote widespread adoption of MCED.
• The ultimate goal is to optimize cancer screening strategies and reduce cancer mortality globally.