Oncologists Report Seeing More Advanced Cancers and Say Current Tests Are Not Catching Cancer Recurrence Early Enough, New Quest Diagnostics Report Finds

Core Insights - The report titled "The Cancer Paradox" reveals that oncologists are increasingly encountering advanced-stage cancers, attributing this trend primarily to screening barriers and other factors [3][4][5] - The report highlights the need for improved post-treatment monitoring tools, particularly the emerging ctDNA minimal residual disease (MRD) blood tests, which could enhance early detection of cancer recurrence [3][4][8] Group 1: Oncologists' Perspectives - 76% of oncologists report seeing more advanced-stage cancers, with 75% citing screening barriers as the main cause, followed by aging population (48%) and lifestyle factors (43%) [4][5] - 68% of oncologists believe missed or delayed follow-up care is a significant reason for missed cancer recurrence, while 50% point to imaging tests failing to detect recurrence early enough [5][13] - 94% of oncologists agree that ctDNA MRD testing could reduce delays in diagnosing cancer recurrence, although they face barriers to its widespread adoption [5][8] Group 2: Limitations of Current Monitoring Methods - Traditional methods for monitoring cancer recurrence, such as PET scans and MRIs, are viewed as expensive and invasive, with 50% of oncologists noting that imaging tests often fail to detect recurrence early [6][7] - Nearly all oncologists (96%) believe MRD testing can identify cancer recurrence earlier than current methods, with 89% emphasizing the importance of test sensitivity [7][8] Group 3: Adoption of ctDNA MRD Testing - 88% of oncologists support incorporating MRD testing into standard care for cancer-recurrence monitoring, but over half would be more inclined to recommend it with more clinical evidence, inclusion in clinical guidelines, and better insurance coverage [8][9] - A study published in NEJM found that the Haystack MRD test was a reliable alternative to tissue biopsies, identifying complete responses to immunotherapy faster than traditional imaging methods [9] Group 4: Oncologists' Challenges - 89% of oncologists believe early detection of cancer recurrence can improve outcomes, yet 79% report seeing patients whose recurrence was missed at earlier stages [13] - Anxiety and worry are cited as significant challenges for patients, with 87% of oncologists acknowledging this concern, compared to 53% who mention treatment side effects [13]