Quest Diagnostics has announced a collaboration with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Centre to develop a Multi-Cancer Stratification Test (MCaST) blood test.
The initiative aims to enhance cancer risk assessment, allowing more targeted screenings.
The test will use circulating protein biomarkers to evaluate risks for cancers such as breast, colorectal, oesophageal, liver, lung, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate, and stomach.
Under the partnership, Quest Diagnostics will develop and validate a laboratory-developed test using technology and intellectual property from MD Anderson.
The MCaST model, created by Dr Samir Hanash’s team, is based on extensive clinical research involving tens of thousands of individuals.
Quest intends to refine and further develop the technology for its lab-developed test.
Upon successful validation, Quest may commercialise the test, aiming for a North American release in 2026.
The test is expected to supplement existing screening methods by providing insights to help identify patients who would benefit from further evaluation.
Quest’s new test seeks to address the challenges associated with the current screening methods by offering a more personalised risk assessment.
Quest Diagnostics oncology, genomics and R&D senior vice president Mark Gardner said: “One of the biggest problems in cancer care today is patients skipping preventive screenings because the methods are too invasive, inconvenient or unaffordable.
“Another huge problem is a lack of tests for infrequent, but often deadly cancers, like pancreatic cancer.
“Building on proteomics discoveries from Dr Hanash and his team, Quest intends to create a simple blood test anyone can conveniently access and reasonably afford to identify the risk of a range of cancers.
“A patient identified with elevated risk may be more inclined to pursue preventive cancer screening or other medical assessments that could identify cancer in early, more treatable stages of disease.”
Earlier this year, Quest launched a new self-collection option for human papillomavirus (HPV) screening, allowing patients to collect their samples in clinical environments in the US.
The move is aimed at improving accessibility to cervical cancer screening for patients who may face barriers to traditional provider-collected testing.
Initially available in physicians’ offices and other healthcare settings, the option enables patients to perform the specimen collection themselves under guidance.
