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Blood Test Revolutionizes Early Cancer Detection

A new experimental blood test shows promising results in accurately detecting colon cancer in middle-aged and older adults, according to a recent study. The blood test was found to be 81% effective at identifying colon cancer in patients who already had the disease and 90% accurate at ruling it out in healthy individuals. These findings were presented at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium in San Francisco.

Lead researcher Dr. Aasma Shaukat, a gastroenterologist from NYU Grossman School of Medicine, highlighted that this blood test could significantly improve colon cancer screening rates. Currently, around 22% of eligible individuals in the U.S. have never undergone colon cancer screening, with some states seeing rates as high as 40%. The blood test could offer a more accessible alternative to traditional screening methods, such as colonoscopy.

While colonoscopy remains the gold standard for detecting colon cancer, it requires uncomfortable preparation and sedation. Fecal tests are also an option but need to be repeated annually. Dr. Shaukat emphasized that additional screening options that are more convenient, safe, and easy to complete are essential for increasing participation in colorectal cancer screening.

The study tested the new blood screening method on over 40,000 people aged 45 to 85 across 200 U.S. sites. Participants first had their blood drawn and then underwent a standard colonoscopy. Researchers compared the results to evaluate the blood test’s effectiveness against colonoscopy.

Dr. Pamela Kunz, chief of GI medical oncology at Yale School of Medicine, who was not involved in the study, noted that this blood test could provide a convenient and effective option for colorectal cancer screening. Researchers plan to continue studying the long-term effectiveness of this blood-based screening method. However, results from medical conferences are considered preliminary until published in peer-reviewed journals.