Simple test instead of dozens of examinations: a new approach to detecting 50 types of cancer

The new Galleri blood test can detect more than 50 types of cancer at an early stage, including aggressive forms for which no screening previously existed. Data from the NHS-Galleri and Pathfinder 2 studies, presented at the ASCO congress, show a reduction in late-stage diagnoses and an increase in early detection. The test is still expensive and only available privately.

At the ASCO oncology congress, data was presented on the Galleri test — a blood test capable of detecting more than 50 types of cancer before symptoms appear. The test is based on liquid biopsy (MCED) technology, which analyzes tumor DNA fragments in the bloodstream using AI. In the British NHS-Galleri study involving 140,000 people, a 14% reduction in cases of cancer diagnosed at stage 4 was recorded, along with a 16% increase in cases detected at early stages. The Pathfinder 2 study showed a 6.5-fold increase in detected cancer cases compared to standard diagnostics, with a specificity of 99.6%. Professor Sivan Shamai from the Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov) noted 87% accuracy in identifying the organ of tumor origin. However, the test is still expensive, only available privately, and long-term data on its impact on mortality is insufficient. The material was provided by Oncotest.