Novel biomarkers in screening for occult cancer in high-risk patient populations

Early diagnosis of cancer is key for improving patient outcomes, but cancers are hard to diagnose if patients present with unspecific symptoms.

The principal objective of the MEDECA study is to identify a multi-analyte blood test that can detect and map cancer within a mixed population presenting with serious but unspecific symptoms.

We are including 1.000 patients referred to the Diagnostic Center at Danderyd Hospital (DC DS), a multidisciplinary diagnostic center referral pathway.

Blood samples are collected prior to a standardized and comprehensive cancer diagnostic work-up including an expanded panel of biochemical analyses and extensive imaging such as CT or MR investigations.

In close international collaboration with world-leading scientists within the field of "liquid biopsy", the blood samples will be analyzed for a panel of novel and established blood biomarkers predicitve of an underlying cancer.

These include markers of neutrophil extracellular traps, circulating tumor DNA, platelet mRNA profiling, affinity-based proteomics and nuclear resonance metabolomics.

The diagnostic accuracy of the blood biomarkers with respect to cancer detection will be analyzed through machine learning, with the overarching goal to develop a multi-analyte blood test that can detect an occult cancer. This may lead to an earlier diagnosis, prompt cancer treatment and reduced morbidity and mortality.

This would also lead to avoidance of unnecessary and costly investigations.