Quest Diagnostics Partners with MD Anderson for Innovative Multi-Cancer Risk Blood Test

Quest Diagnostics has announced a groundbreaking collaboration with MD Anderson Cancer Center to develop a novel blood test aimed at identifying individuals at elevated risk for multiple types of cancer. This strategic partnership marks a significant advancement in the field of early cancer detection and risk assessment.

The Multi-Cancer Stratification Test (MCaST)

The newly licensed technology, dubbed the multi-cancer stratification test (MCaST), utilizes liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry to detect protein biomarkers in the bloodstream associated with increased cancer risk. This innovative approach targets a wide range of cancer types, including colorectal, lung, breast, pancreatic, ovarian, liver, prostate, esophageal, and stomach cancers. Collectively, these cancers represent approximately 85% of all cancer diagnoses in the United States.

Mark Gardner, Quest's senior vice president for oncology, genomics and R&D, emphasized the potential impact of this test, stating, "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."

Enhancing Cancer Screening and Early Detection

The MCaST risk model was developed in the laboratory of Dr. Samir Hanash, director of MD Anderson's Red and Charline McCombs Institute for the Early Detection and Treatment of Cancer. The biomarkers were identified through extensive screening studies involving tens of thousands of participants.

Quest Diagnostics envisions MCaST as a complement to existing cancer screening practices, which typically focus on single cancer types based on age-related risk factors. Unlike other multi-cancer early detection tests that identify cancer-related DNA, such as Grail's Galleri test, MCaST is designed to provide a personalized overall risk assessment.

Gardner explained the potential benefits: "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."

Timeline and Future Implications

Quest Diagnostics has set an ambitious goal for the commercial launch of MCaST, aiming to bring the test to market as early as next year. This rapid development timeline underscores the company's commitment to advancing cancer diagnostics and improving patient outcomes through early detection and intervention.

As the pharmaceutical and biotech industries continue to focus on personalized medicine and early disease detection, the introduction of MCaST could represent a significant step forward in cancer risk assessment and prevention strategies. The success of this collaboration between Quest Diagnostics and MD Anderson Cancer Center may pave the way for further innovations in the field of liquid biopsy and cancer diagnostics.