Roundup: Simple Blood Test May Detect Cancer Years Before Symptoms; and More News

New Study Suggests Cancer May Be Detectable in Blood Years Before Symptoms Appear

A new study led by scientists at Johns Hopkins University suggests that cancer may be detectable in the blood up to three years before a formal diagnosis. The study, published in the journal Cancer Discovery, may open new avenues for early cancer detection -- and potentially life-saving interventions.

Researchers focused on detecting tumor-derived genetic material in blood samples. Their key finding: specific DNA mutations associated with tumors, known as tumor-derived mutations, can appear in the bloodstream years before any clinical signs of cancer emerge. This discovery points to the feasibility of using blood tests, sometimes referred to as liquid biopsies, for early cancer screening.

While the findings are encouraging, these blood tests are not yet part of standard medical practice. More research and regulatory approval are needed before these blood screenings become widely available.

The lead author, Yuxuan Wang, M.D., assistant professor of oncology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, expressed surprise at the timeline uncovered. “Three years earlier provides time for intervention. The tumors are likely to be much less advanced and more likely to be curable,” he stated.

Study Design and Key Findings

The research team, which included collaborators from several Johns Hopkins institutions including the Ludwig Center, Kimmel Cancer Center, School of Medicine, and Bloomberg School of Public Health, utilized stored blood samples from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. ARIC is a long-term study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that investigates cardiovascular and other chronic diseases in the general population.

For this cancer-specific analysis, the scientists examined plasma samples from 52 individuals:

• 26 participants were diagnosed with cancer within six months of providing a blood sample.
• 26 participants served as a comparison group and were not diagnosed with cancer.

Using a multicancer early detection (MCED) test—a cutting-edge sequencing technology that identifies rare genetic changes in blood—the researchers assessed whether tumor DNA could be found prior to a clinical diagnosis.

Results:

• Eight participants tested positive for cancer using the MCED test.
• All eight were officially diagnosed within four months of the blood draw.
• Of these, six had additional samples taken 3.1–3.5 years prior to diagnosis.
• Remarkably, four of those six early samples also contained detectable tumor DNA.

This suggests that the test can detect cancer signals well in advance—potentially offering a critical head start in treatment planning.

What is a Multicancer Early Detection (MCED) Test?

An MCED test is a blood-based screening tool designed to identify genetic signals from multiple types of cancer simultaneously. It relies on next-generation sequencing, a highly sensitive method that can detect minute DNA fragments released into the blood by cancerous tumors.

Though MCED tests are still under development and not yet widely used in clinical settings, studies like this one provide evidence of their promise in population-wide cancer screening.

Future Implications

Bert Vogelstein, M.D., co-director of the Ludwig Center at Johns Hopkins and a senior author of the study, highlighted the broader importance in a news release: “This study shows the promise of MCED tests in detecting cancers very early, and sets the benchmark sensitivities required for their success.”

Another senior author, Nickolas Papadopoulos, M.D., added: “Detecting cancers years before their clinical diagnosis could help provide management with a more favorable outcome. Of course, we need to determine the appropriate clinical follow-up after a positive test for such cancers.”

While the MCED blood tests are yet to be fully developed and available, this study reinforces the importance of regular health screenings and open discussions with healthcare providers, especially for individuals at higher risk of cancer due to family history or other factors.

Explore screening, treatment services provided by Miami Cancer Institute and Lynn Cancer Institute, partners in Baptist Health Cancer Care.

Alarming Rise in Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease Deaths in the U.S., Study Finds

New research analyzing more than two decades of national mortality data has uncovered a troubling trend in alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) across the United States. Between 1999 and 2022, ALD-related deaths have nearly doubled, with sharp increases noted during and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The study’s authors say the findings signal an urgent need for public health interventions to address high-risk groups and curtail rising alcohol-related health complications.

Alcohol-associated liver disease refers to a spectrum of liver damage resulting from chronic and excessive alcohol consumption. The two primary types include: alcohol-associated hepatitis, an acute inflammation of the liver caused by heavy alcohol use, potentially reversible but often severe; and alcohol-associated cirrhosis, a more advanced stage of liver damage where normal liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue, leading to permanent loss of liver function.

ALD now accounts for approximately 25 percent of all deaths from cirrhosis and has become the leading reason for liver transplantation in the U.S.

Key Findings of the Study

Published in 2025, this cross-sectional study reviewed mortality data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for individuals aged 25 and older. Using medical coding for ALD, researchers analyzed 436,814 deaths related to alcohol-associated liver damage across all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

Nationwide Mortality Trends

• Age-adjusted mortality rates for ALD increased from 6.71 deaths per 100,000 in 1999 to 12.53 in 2022.
• The sharpest acceleration occurred between 2018 and 2022, with an annual percentage increase of 8.94 percent during this period.

Disparities by Sex, Age, and Race

• Women experienced faster increases in ALD-related deaths than men:
• Women’s average annual percentage increase: 4.29 percent
• Men’s average annual increase: 2.50 percent
• Young adults aged 25–44 showed particularly steep mortality increases: 4.23 percent annually.
• American Indian and Alaska Native populations had the highest mortality rates:
• Deaths per 100,000 rose from 25.21 in 1999 to 46.75 in 2022.
• Their annual increase rate was 4.93 percent, the highest among all racial and ethnic groups.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic appears to have intensified ALD trends. Public health experts suggest that increases in alcohol consumption during lockdowns, economic stress, and reduced access to routine healthcare may have exacerbated liver disease outcomes. The acceleration in deaths from 2018 onwards, particularly during the pandemic years, underscores this connection.

The study concludes: “The significant acceleration in ALD mortality, particularly during and following the COVID-19 pandemic onset, highlights urgent needs for targeted interventions among high-risk populations.”

Given the clear demographic disparities, researchers said public health agencies are encouraged to prioritize awareness campaigns, improve access to substance use treatment, and expand screening programs—especially for younger adults, women, and American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

Rates of Appendix Cancer Rising in Younger Adults, Researchers Find

The incidence of appendiceal adenocarcinoma (AA), or appendix cancer, is sharply increasing among younger generations in the United States, according to a new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine

The research, led by experts at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, emphasizes the urgency of both etiologic (causes of the disease) research and heightened awareness among clinicians and the public.

Appendiceal adenocarcinoma is a rare form of cancer that originates in the cells lining the appendix. Though historically considered rare, recent findings suggest the landscape is changing.

Key Findings: A Generational Surge

Using data from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program, the researchers examined AA incidence from 1975 to 2019. Their analysis focused on age-specific incidence rates across 21 overlapping birth cohorts. A total of 4,858 individuals aged 20 years or older were diagnosed with pathologically confirmed primary AA during the study period.

The results are striking:

• Incidence among the 1980 birth cohort tripled relative to the 1945 cohort.
• Incidence among the 1985 birth cohort quadrupled.
• This pattern held across all histologic subtypes, although the degree of increase varied by type.

The surge was especially pronounced in individuals born after 1945, with a particular concentration among Generation X (born 1965–1980) and Millennials (born 1981–1996).

Andreana N. Holowatyj, M.D., co-author of the study, noted the significance of these findings in a news release. “These patterns strongly suggest a timely need for etiologic research and increased AA awareness among physicians and the public.”

Rising incidence among younger adults may be indicative of future disease burden. Typically, cancer trends in early adulthood serve as harbingers of patterns in older populations. In this case, the increases among Generation X and Millennials could signal a growing public health issue.

Call for Further Research and Awareness

The study authors underscore the need for deeper investigation into the causes of this trend. Environmental, genetic, and lifestyle factors might play a role, but data are limited. Moreover, because AA often presents with nonspecific symptoms and can mimic appendicitis, it may go undiagnosed until it reaches an advanced stage.

Physicians should be aware of the increasing incidence in younger adults and maintain a high index of suspicion, especially when treating patients presenting with abdominal symptoms. Likewise, the general public should be informed that appendix cancer, though rare, is becoming more common among younger individuals.

As the burden of AA appears to be shifting to younger populations, researchers call for:

• Histology-specific studies to understand varying patterns among cancer subtypes.
• Public health initiatives to improve early detection and education.
• Clinical vigilance to ensure timely diagnosis and intervention.