A new blood test detects colon cancer in most cases and could help encourage more people to get screened. It shows promise for spotting the disease early, which can lead to better patient outcomes.
Key Facts:
- The blood test detects colon cancer with about 81% accuracy and rules it out 90% of the time.
- More than 27,000 adults participated in the research, which included both blood tests and colonoscopies.
- Results were shared at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium.
- Experts warn that the test will still require follow-up colonoscopies when cancer is detected.
- Colon cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the U.S., and cases in younger adults are rising.
The Rest of The Story:
Researchers took blood samples from participants aged 45 to 85 before they had colonoscopies.
They looked for specific molecular signs of advanced cancer in the blood and compared those findings with the colonoscopy results.
Dr. Aasma Shaukat from NYU Grossman School of Medicine, the lead study author, explained that this blood test may improve overall screening rates.
The results showed a sensitivity of 81.1%, meaning it caught cancer four out of five times, and a specificity of 90.4%, meaning it gave a negative result when cancer was not present.
Other experts, including Dr. Pamela Kunz from Yale School of Medicine and Dr. Pashtoon Kasi from City of Hope Orange County, highlighted that blood-based tests may be more convenient for some people.
However, they still recommend colonoscopies to remove potentially cancerous polyps and confirm a cancer diagnosis when the test is positive.
As of now, a colonoscopy is considered the best way to detect and prevent colon cancer, but these blood tests could be a useful option for those who avoid the procedure.
Researchers plan to keep studying the test’s long-term impact and how it might fit into standard screening guidelines.
Commentary:
This development offers a major step forward for patients who fear or avoid colonoscopies.
Early detection is vital for colon cancer survival, and a simple blood draw could encourage more people to get screened.
If more people use this test, it might lead to quicker detection of early-stage cancers that are easier to treat.
Adding another screening tool could boost overall patient outcomes and potentially save lives.
The Bottom Line:
This blood test holds real promise as part of a broader colon cancer screening strategy.
While it will not replace colonoscopies, it opens the door for more people to catch cancer earlier.
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