In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. John Kisiel discuss early cancer detection using liquid biopsies. Dr. Kisiel explains that liquid biopsies detect cancer signals in blood and urine, including tumor cells, fragments, proteins, and DNA. He highlights the FDA's approval of a blood test for colon cancer and the development of multi-cancer early detection tests. Dr. Kisiel notes that false positive and false negative rates vary by test. He emphasizes the potential of liquid biopsies to complement, not replace, standard screening methods and the need for further validation and clinical trials.

Key Takeaways:

• Liquid biopsies have been used in the oncology community to test if cancer is still present, may need additional or more aggressive treatment, or if the cancer has come back.

• Each test will have its own false positive and false negative rate, partially based on where manufacturers set the thresholds for that positive/negative result.

• Peripheral blood-based tests for colon cancer do not detect polyps, and it's the finding and removing of polyps that actually offers the greatest preventive benefit, so that somebody never gets cancer in the first place.

"Another word of cautious optimism, I think that I, personally, and many other people active in the space really view these as an addition to standard of care cancer screening and not a replacement." — Dr. John Kisiel

Connect with Dr. John Kisiel:

Professional Bio: https://www.mayo.edu/research/faculty/kisiel-john-b-m-d/bio-00092659

Connect with Therese:

Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net

Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social

Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast

Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net

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