Quest Diagnostics to Develop Multi-cancer Stratification (MCaST) Blood Test Based on MD Anderson Technology

Core Viewpoint - Quest Diagnostics has announced a collaboration with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to develop a blood test aimed at improving cancer risk assessment and screening for individuals at elevated risk [1][2]. Group 1: Collaboration and Test Development - Quest Diagnostics will develop and validate a laboratory-developed blood test based on circulating protein biomarkers linked to high cancer risk, including cancers such as colorectal, lung, breast, pancreatic, ovarian, liver, prostate, esophageal, and stomach [2]. - The test will utilize technology and intellectual property from the Multi-Cancer Stratification Test (MCaST), developed by Dr. Samir Hanash and his team at MD Anderson, which is based on extensive clinical research involving tens of thousands of individuals [2]. - If the test validation is successful, Quest may commercialize the test, aiming for availability to providers in North America by 2026 [3]. Group 2: Test Purpose and Market Need - The future test is intended to supplement conventional screening methods by providing insights that help identify patients who would benefit from appropriate cancer screenings, addressing the limitations of current methods that often target a limited number of cancers [4]. - Current screening methods can be invasive, inconvenient, or costly, leading to a significant number of patients skipping preventive screenings; only 51% of U.S. adults reported having a routine medical appointment or cancer screening in the last year [5][6]. - Quest aims to create a simple and affordable blood test to identify risks for various cancers, potentially encouraging patients to pursue preventive screenings and early medical assessments [6].