GRAIL’s MCED test analyzes DNA shed by both normal and cancerous cells into a person’s bloodstream, looking for telltale epigenetic changes that affect the way genes operate. Specific changes are associated with the presence of cancer cells.
Published research indicates that the test can detect a shared signal across more than 50 types of cancer. They include pancreatic, liver, and kidney cancers, which are difficult to diagnose early. The Galleri test not only detects a cancer signal but also provides two predictions of the cancer signal’s origin to inform further diagnostic evaluation.
MCED screening is a potentially significant advance because there are currently only five recommended cancer screening tests: for breast, colorectal, lung, cervical, and prostate cancers. Around 70 percent of new cancer diagnoses and deaths are due to cancers for which there are no recommended screening tests.
This story is from the June 2023 edition of Reason magazine.
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This story is from the June 2023 edition of Reason magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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