Quest Diagnostics Partners with MD Anderson to Develop Cancer Risk Blood Test

Quest Diagnostics has announced a collaboration with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to develop a novel blood test for cancer risk assessment. The partnership, disclosed on Tuesday, aims to leverage MD Anderson's research into protein biomarkers that may indicate a patient's elevated risk of cancer diagnosis in the coming years.

A New Approach to Cancer Screening

Unlike liquid biopsy tests that detect tumor DNA, the proposed test focuses on protein panels to identify patients at higher risk of developing cancer. This approach, spearheaded by Dr. Samir Hanash's laboratory at MD Anderson, has shown promise in recent studies for various cancer types.

Quest plans to refine, develop, and validate the technology, with the goal of launching the test in North America as early as next year. The company has secured a developmental license for the cancer risk technology and intellectual property from Dr. Hanash's laboratory.

Potential Benefits and Applications

The collaboration aims to create an affordable and easy-to-use test that could support more targeted and cost-effective cancer screening. This approach may be particularly beneficial for cancers that are typically detected at advanced stages, such as pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

For lung cancer, where current screening recommendations target current and former heavy smokers, the blood test could potentially expand benefits to non-smokers and encourage higher participation in screening programs. A 2022 study found that only 17% of eligible patients received a lung cancer screening scan.

Challenges and Considerations

While the potential benefits are significant, the technology still faces challenges. The test's efficacy will depend on its ability to balance sensitivity and specificity, avoiding both false positives that could stress patients and overwhelm screening services, and false negatives that might provide misplaced reassurance.

As Quest and MD Anderson continue to develop this technology, the pharmaceutical and diagnostic industries will be watching closely to see if this new approach can deliver on its promise of more accessible and effective cancer risk assessment.