Quest Diagnostics has launched a new initiative to develop a blood test that assesses a person’s risk for multiple cancers. Technology from the renowned MD Anderson Cancer Center powers this effort, aiming to help individuals identify their cancer risk more effectively and potentially encouraging more timely screenings.
Introducing the MCaST: A Multi-Cancer Risk Assessment Tool
The new test, called the Multi-Cancer Stratification Test (MCaST), leverages liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry to detect protein biomarkers circulating in the blood. These biomarkers are linked to elevated risks for several cancer types, including colorectal, lung, breast, pancreatic, ovarian, liver, prostate, esophageal, and stomach cancers. Together, these cancers account for approximately 85% of all U.S. cancer diagnoses.
Quest plans to launch MCaST commercially in 2026, aligning with growing demand for less invasive, more personalized cancer detection methods.
Tackling Major Gaps in Cancer Prevention
“One of the biggest problems in cancer care today is patients skipping preventive screenings because the methods are too invasive, inconvenient or unaffordable,” said Mark Gardner, Quest’s Senior Vice President of Oncology, Genomics and R&D. “Another huge problem is a lack of tests for infrequent, but often deadly cancers, like pancreatic cancer.”
According to Fierce Biotech, the MCaST risk model originates from research led by Samir Hanash, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Red and Charline McCombs Institute for the Early Detection and Treatment of Cancer at MD Anderson. Hanash and his team identified the biomarker panel through extensive analysis of screening data from tens of thousands of individuals.
Supplementing Traditional Screening with Personalized Insights
Unlike conventional screening practices that target a single cancer type based on age, MCaST evaluates risk across multiple cancers simultaneously. It complements emerging liquid biopsy tools, such as Grail’s Galleri test, which detect cancer-linked DNA in the bloodstream. However, while those tests aim to find existing cancer, MCaST stratifies risk levels and guides decisions about when and how to screen.
Enabling Earlier and More Targeted Interventions
Gardner emphasized the potential impact of this approach: “A patient identified with elevated risk may be more inclined to pursue preventive cancer screening or other medical assessments that could identify cancer in early, more treatable stages.”
With MCaST, Quest Diagnostics is stepping into a critical space in cancer care—empowering patients and clinicians with actionable insights that may lead to earlier interventions and improved outcomes.