Revolutionary Blood Screening Test Demonstrates Potential to Identify Dozens of Cancer Types Sooner

Major Cancer Detection Breakthrough

A revolutionary blood test designed to detect more than 50 types of cancer has delivered highly promising results in one of the largest interventional screening trials conducted to date, according to reports presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress 2025 in Berlin. The PATHFINDER 2 study of the Galleri multi-cancer early detection (MCED) test reportedly showed a more than seven-fold increase in cancer detection rates when used alongside standard recommended screenings.

Major Cancer Detection Breakthrough
Transforming Cancer Detection Approach
Large-Scale Implementation Underway
Advanced Detection Technology
Potential Public Health Impact
Future Research Directions

Analysts suggest this represents a significant advancement in cancer screening technology, with the report stating that more than half of the cancers detected were at early stages (stage I or II), when they are most treatable. Approximately three-quarters of the cancers identified through the test have no existing standard screening program, including pancreatic, liver, ovarian, and stomach cancers.

Transforming Cancer Detection Approach

According to sources involved in the research, the test’s potential to reshape cancer outcomes is substantial. Dr. Josh Ofman, President of GRAIL, Inc., indicated that “adding Galleri to recommended screening yielded a more than seven-fold increase in the cancer detection rate, and more than half of the Galleri-detected new cancers were found in early stages, when cancers are more treatable and potentially even curable.”

Medical experts emphasize that cancer remains the second leading cause of death worldwide primarily because many deadly cancers are discovered too late for effective intervention. The new testing approach aims to address this critical gap in early detection capabilities.

Large-Scale Implementation Underway

The UK’s National Health Service is already conducting one of the world’s most ambitious screening studies using the Galleri test, according to reports. More than 140,000 participants are reportedly being enrolled, with topline results expected next year. The goal, analysts suggest, is to determine whether population-level deployment of MCED screening can fundamentally improve cancer outcomes.

Sources indicate that if the data replicate U.S. findings, the NHS plans to expand the test to an additional one million people, potentially creating the first national MCED screening program in the world. Sir Harpal Kumar, President of Biopharma at GRAIL, told media outlets that “the vast majority of people who die from cancer do so because we find their cancers too late. The aim is to shift to earlier detection, when we have the chance to use treatments that are much more effective and potentially curative.”

Advanced Detection Technology

Unlike traditional diagnostics that search for specific cancers, the Galleri test analyzes fragments of cell-free DNA shed by tumors into the bloodstream, identifying chemical methylation patterns that signal the presence of cancer, according to the technical reports. The test reportedly demonstrates 99.6% specificity, meaning it has a false positive rate of just 0.4% – described as the lowest among MCED tests.

Researchers note that the test’s positive predictive value is approximately 62%, meaning nearly two-thirds of those who receive a positive result truly have cancer. Equally important, sources indicate the test can pinpoint where in the body the cancer originated with 92% accuracy in the PATHFINDER 2 study, enabling physicians to focus diagnostic workups and minimize unnecessary procedures.

Potential Public Health Impact

Medical experts suggest that population-scale early detection could significantly ease the economic burden of late-stage cancer treatment. Cancer care represents one of the most expensive components of healthcare spending, with late-stage therapies reportedly costing multiple times more than early interventions. A shift toward earlier detection could mean both better patient outcomes and lower system-wide costs.

Dr. Nima Nabavizadeh of Oregon Health & Science University, who co-led the PATHFINDER 2 study, emphasized that “Galleri could fundamentally change our approach to cancer screening, helping to detect many types of cancer earlier, when the chance of successful treatment or even cure are the greatest.”

Future Research Directions

While the current results are described as exciting, researchers caution that the ultimate measure of success will be whether early detection translates into fewer cancer deaths. According to Professor Clare Turnbull of The Institute of Cancer Research, “data from randomized studies, with mortality as an endpoint, will be absolutely essential to establish whether seemingly earlier-stage detection by Galleri translates into benefits in mortality.”

Nevertheless, the momentum appears strong, with U.S. and UK trials moving toward regulatory review and potential population rollout. If successful, medical analysts suggest this technology could transform global approaches to cancer from late-stage treatment to early-stage prevention and intervention.