Dr Hwang on the Potential Use of Multicancer Early Detection Tests in Breast Cancer Screening

Shelley Hwang, MD, MPH, surgical oncologist, Mary and Deryl Hart Distinguished Professor of Surgery, School of Medicine, professor, surgery, vice-chair, Research, Department of Surgery, professor, radiology, member, Duke Cancer Institute, core faculty member, Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy, Duke Health, discusses the potential role for multicancer early detection tests in the future of breast cancer screening, particularly in terms of improving patient outcomes.

At the 41st Annual Miami Breast Cancer Conference, Hwang discussed current data and updates on the use of multi-cancer early detection tests in breast cancer screening. These tests rely on liquid biopsy to detect shed tumor components, offering the potential for noninvasive cancer screening via a simple blood test, Hwang explains. They are often combined with machine learning algorithms, and a positive test requires verification using standard diagnostic tools. Several competing multi-cancer early detection tests are in development, each with their own approaches and methodologies, Hwang details.

Multi-cancer early detection assays would have the most utility for patients who do not have symptomatic disease or tumors that can be detected with a physical exam, Hwang continues. These tests could offer patients a noninvasive, convenient screening method that can be repeated over time, Hwang notes. If successful, the use of these tests could help identify early-stage cancers that might otherwise go undetected until symptoms manifest or traditional diagnostic methods are employed, she states, adding that they also hold promise for identifying patients in high-risk populations for whom screening methods are currently unavailable.

However, concerns linger regarding false positive results, high costs, and the risk of overdiagnosis and overtreatment with these assays. The utility of these tests may also vary depending on the population prevalence of cancer. Despite these challenges, the development of multi-cancer early detection tests represents a significant advancement in cancer screening technology, and could improved patient outcomes through earlier detection and intervention, Hwang concludes.