Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world. Unfortunately, many do not acknowledge its presence in their body until it’s too late. However, what if a few drops of blood may be all it takes to spot cancer years before it strikes?

According to the study led by researchers at John Hopkins University, genetic material shed by tumors can be detected in the bloodstream years prior by a multicancer early detection (MCED) test. Here is how it works: MCED tests check blood samples for any signs of cancers, such as pieces of DNA, RNA, or proteins from cancer cells. If the test discovers something abnormal, it may signify the individual has cancer.

This test was utilized by researchers who analyzed blood samples given by a large National Institutes of Health-funded study. There were 52 participants, half of whom were diagnosed with cancer within six months of getting their blood drawn. The MCED test accurately identified eight of the participants showing early signs of cancer, all of them receiving a diagnosis within four months of their blood test.

Though some MCED tests may find a range of cancers before an individual has any symptoms, they do not officially diagnose cancer. If a result is positive, further exams are needed to confirm whether cancer is present, where it is located, and its type.

However, with the help of funding from multiple organizations, especially the National Cancer Institute (which is one of the National Institutes of Health), researchers are now able to run bigger trials and collect evidence required for the test’s usage in the real world. An example is a workshop sponsored in 2021 by the National Cancer Institute, which determined how to evaluate multiple tests and how to care for the patients with positive results, therefore expanding knowledge on this multicancer early detection test. Further federal support will continue to allow researchers to improve the MCED test’s potential and ultimately discover a way to utilize it to accurately detect cancer earlier and change lives before it strikes.