A revolutionary new multi-cancer early detection blood test, Galleri, is turning the medical establishment on its head. It’s given them a powerful new tool for catching cancer early. This innovative test can identify the presence of cancer and pinpoint its origin, providing valuable insights that could significantly enhance diagnosis and treatment strategies.
Galleri really shines when it comes to finding multiple cancers, and finding them sooner. Its AI has already reached a detection rate of 83.7 percent for one subgroup of cancer, and 74.8 percent for another. The test shows impressive sensitivity, especially for ovarian cancer, where it reports a sensitivity of 83.1 percent. Furthermore, Galleri can accurately identify the 12 cancers that account for the majority of cancer-related deaths in the United States with a rate of 76.3 percent.
The real opportunity of Galleri lies in its ability to work alongside standardized, routine tests. In such cases, it can detect seven times more cancers. This is even more true for those cancers that we do not have sufficient screening technologies to adequately provide. This important capability is vital, providing promise for detection of some of the deadliest cancers earlier than ever.
Unlike standard cancer tests, which only confirm the presence of cancer, Galleri identifies where cancer started, speeding up the diagnostic process. It’s a very sensitive thing that can swing hugely in either direction. It’s only 34.8 percent for bladder cancer, but it’s 93.5 percent for liver or bile duct cancer! When Galleri does detect a positive signal, it has a positive predictive value of around 60 percent. Its negative predictive value is a strikingly high 99.1 percent, dramatically lowering the risk of false negatives.
Today, Galleri is in use by Medcan, a health and wellness company specializing in preventive care. The test is currently available throughout the United States and major urban centers of Canada including Ontario. Farther west, the House of Commons performed an ongoing assessment in the United Kingdom.
“This test highlights where to look, illuminating the areas that require the most attention,” said Justin Lorentz, emphasizing the test’s targeted approach.
Dr. Peter Nord added, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” underscoring the importance of early detection in improving patient outcomes. He further noted, “So, the value is that A) cancer is detected and B) the origin is predicted.”
Part of the explanation for Galleri’s high sensitivity to certain cancers is due to the proximity of the cancer to blood supply in their natural progression. As Lorentz explained, “The cancers that are close to a blood supply will shed higher rates of DNA, while encapsulated cancers are less likely to be picked up through this blood test.”
The introduction of Galleri fills a significant gap in cancer screening, as Dr. Nord remarked, “It’s really filling a niche gap, and nobody planned that.” He remains optimistic about the future of cancer detection: “Who knows where the technology is going to lead us in the future, but currently, it’s not going to replace anything. It’s complementary.”
