A groundbreaking study led by researchers at Johns Hopkins has revealed that tumor DNA can be detected in the bloodstream up to three years prior to a cancer diagnosis.

In this study, blood samples from eight individuals showed detectable tumor-derived mutations, with six of them revealing these mutations 3.1 to 3.5 years before their actual cancer diagnosis.

Specifically, four cases demonstrated the presence of tumor-derived mutations in blood samples taken 3.1 to 3.5 years before diagnosis, highlighting the potential for early intervention.

The research received substantial financial backing from various cancer research foundations and institutions, underscoring its importance in advancing cancer detection.

Senior author Bert Vogelstein emphasized that this study establishes critical sensitivity benchmarks necessary for successful multicancer early detection (MCED) tests.

Co-author Nickolas Papadopoulos pointed out the importance of determining appropriate clinical follow-up for patients who test positive for cancer years before an official diagnosis.

Lead researcher Dr. Yuxuan Wang highlighted that early detection enables more effective and potentially curable interventions for tumors.

Among the 52 participants analyzed, eight tested positive for MCED tests at the time of blood collection, and all were diagnosed with cancer within four months.

The findings of this significant research were published in the journal Cancer Discovery on May 22, 2025, and were partly funded by the National Institutes of Health.

The research team analyzed plasma samples from participants in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study, where 26 individuals were diagnosed with cancer shortly after their samples were collected.

Utilizing advanced sequencing techniques, researchers examined blood samples from 52 participants, with 26 diagnosed with cancer within six months of sample collection.