Hot Topics in Blood-based Cancer Screening: Key Information on Multi-Cancer Early Detection from 2023 Spring Oncology Meetings

Early detection of cancer is essential to reducing the significant burdens associated with it. When cancer is detected at earlier stages, treatments can be initiated sooner, resulting in improved outcomes, reduced morbidity and mortality, and better quality of life. While the implementation of current screening guidelines has resulted in an overall reduction in cancer deaths, only 25% of cancers are diagnosed using traditional screening modalities, leaving much room for improvement. Blood-based multi-cancer early detection (MCED) tests that can screen from 4 to >50 types of cancers have been developed to complement the population-based screening of asymptomatic individuals. At the spring 2023 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), and National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) annual conferences, a multitude of data was presented on MCEDs, including real-world data, clinical trial data, novel MCEDs in development, MCED accuracy, and the inherent health equity challenges that their implementation will face. This educational activity has 2 parts: Dr. Candace Westgate delivers an MCED Primer designed to build primary care clinicians’ knowledge about the science of MCEDs and how to implement their use in primary care practice, followed by chapterized discussions between Dr. Westgate and Dr. Ethan Schram on the various MCED-related data presented at the AACR, ASCO, and NCCN 2023 oncology conferences.