New Blood Test Detects Lung Cancer Years Earlier

New developments in blood-based screening are aiming to address the challenges of early lung cancer detection, a critical need given that lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally.

Because many individuals do not exhibit obvious symptoms in the early stages, most cases are not diagnosed until the disease has reached an advanced stage. This delay significantly lowers the five-year survival rate, as lung cancer is more curable when caught early.

The Role of Low-Dose CT Scans

Currently, the primary screening method available for lung cancer is the low-dose computed tomography (CT) scan. This noninvasive test provides detailed images of the lungs to check for the presence of cancer.

Despite its accuracy, low-dose CT scans have limitations. Some scans can result in false positives or negatives. Patient barriers often prevent consistent screening.

According to Helen Nunez, a nurse practitioner at Hackensack Meridian Health’s Hennessy Institute for Cancer Prevention & Applied Molecular Medicine, some people avoid the test due to claustrophobia—as the process requires lying on a table inside a machine for 10 minutes—or fear of receiving a diagnosis.

New Blood Test Technologies

Several companies are developing blood tests designed to identify lung cancer at earlier stages by detecting tumor-related markers in the bloodstream.

One such test is FirstLook, developed by DELFI Diagnostics. This test assesses a patient’s likelihood of having lung cancer by detecting fragments of DNA shed by tumors into the blood. Results are typically provided within two weeks of the blood draw.

The FirstLook test produces two possible results: elevated or not elevated. An elevated result does not confirm a lung cancer diagnosis but indicates that the patient requires additional testing, such as a low-dose CT scan, to investigate further.

Another development is the NeXT Personal ctDNA assay from the cancer genomics company Personalis Inc. This test is designed to detect small traces of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in the blood, which serves as a marker for recurrent or residual cancer.

Initial findings for the NeXT Personal ctDNA assay were presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology annual congress. Dr. Richard Chen, chief medical officer and executive vice president of research and development at Personalis Inc., noted the test’s ability to identify these ctDNA markers.

Clinical Context and Implications

The integration of blood tests into screening protocols could potentially increase the number of people who undergo screening by providing a simpler initial step before moving to imaging.

The scale of the public health challenge is significant. In 2020, there were approximately 2 million lung cancer diagnoses and 1.8 million deaths worldwide.

The effectiveness of these new tools depends on several factors, including the type of cancer, how early it is detected, and whether the cancer has metastasized to other parts of the body.

Current Status and Limitations

While these technologies show promise, some remain in the early stages of clinical verification. For example, the research regarding the NeXT Personal ctDNA assay had not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal at the time of its presentation at the European Society for Medical Oncology congress.

Mercy BioAnalytics, Inc. Announced data on November 20, 2025, regarding its Mercy Halo blood test, stating that the test showed performance similar to low-dose CT scans with clinical complementarity in early lung cancer detection.

The overarching goal of these advancements is to bridge the gap between available technology and patient utilization to improve early detection outcomes.