From Combination Early Detection to Multicancer Testing - Shifting Cancer Care toward Proactive Prevention and Interception

Sep 23, 2026

Uploaded by Mary Man

From combination early detection to multicancer testing, the article argues that detecting tumors at very early stages and decoding mechanisms of cancer development enables interception of tumor-promoting processes and supports more effective prevention. It details how molecular profiling, liquid biopsy, metagenome analysis, and multicancer assays capture genomic, immune, microenvironmental, and metabolic signals. The framework advances proactive, mechanism-based screening, integrating AI with molecular, immune, and metabolic data, and enabling personalized risk profiles and interception through lifestyle, nutrition, and targeted chemoprevention.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages20

Reading Time50 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Early detection and timely preventive/interceptive treatments

Mechanism-based interception before lesions emerge

Molecular profiling and liquid biopsy approaches

From Combination Early Detection to Multicancer Testing: Shifting Cancer Care toward Proactive Prevention and Interception Adriana Albini1, Dario Trapani2,3, Francesco Bertolini4, Douglas M. Noonan5,6, Roberto Orecchia1, and Giovanni Corso3,7 | | | | A | | B | S | | T | R | | A | | C | T | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 􀀶 | | Identifying the presence of tumors at a very early stage or deciphering the processes underlying their development can enable the interception of promalignant mechanisms underpinning cancer emergence, facilitating more effective prevention. Advances in molecular profiling allow the detection of genetic, epigenetic, immune, and microenvironmental alterations associated with cancer risk. Liquid biopsy permits noninvasive analysis of circulating tumor cells, nucleic acids, immune cells, extracellular vesicles, proteins, cytokines, and metabolites, whereas metagenome analysis facilitates gut microbiota profiling. Multicancer early detection assays broaden this approach, capturing signals from multiple malignancies using a single blood sample. These technologies go beyond genomics, addressing immune dysregulation and metabolic shifts, and may help identify gut microbiota imbalances. Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential is gaining increasing recognition as a biomarker. Cardiovascular risk | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | scores based on multiple parameters are an inspiring example. The analysis of a combination of cancer drivers and enablers should provide a more sensitive and personalized measure of cancer prodromic profiles. Artificial intelligence will further support this transition by integrating molecular, immune, and metabolic data to develop individualized risk profiles. This shift from single-cancer detection to integrated, mechanism-based screening fosters a more proactive prevention model. This combination of early detection empowers cancer interception by using strategies, including lifestyle modification, nutritional optimization, drug repurposing, pharmacologic interventions, and targeted chemoprevention. Moving beyond single parameters analysis and organspecific screening, this multidimensional approach advances early detection and interception as practical clinical goals, facilitating the fundamental aim of positioning prevention at the forefront of oncology. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Introduction Strategies to reduce cancer incidence and mortality include early detection paired with timely access to high-value preventive or interceptive treatments. Traditionally, early 1Scientific Directorate, European Institute of Oncology (IEO), Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, Italy. 2Unit of New drugs development for innovative therapies, European Institute of Oncology (IEO), Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, Italy. 3Department of Oncology and Hemato-oncology,

FAQs

What is the core idea behind shifting cancer care in this article?

It promotes moving from single-cancer, organ-specific early detection toward integrated, mechanism-based multicancer screening that supports proactive prevention and interception before clinical lesions appear.

Which technologies enable multicancer early detection described here?

The article highlights molecular profiling, liquid biopsy, metagenome analysis, and multicancer early detection assays that analyze signals from multiple malignancies using a single blood sample.

How does the article connect risk profiling to cancer interception and prevention?

By combining early detection with analysis of cancer drivers and enablers, it aims to produce more sensitive and personalized prodromic profiles. It further uses strategies such as lifestyle modification, nutritional optimization, drug repurposing, pharmacologic interventions, and targeted chemoprevention.

Sep 23, 2026

Uploaded by Mary Man