India is set to roll out an innovative blood test designed to screen for signals related to ten common cancers through a single blood draw. The initiative is a collaboration between Ahmedabad-based Zydus Lifesciences and Apollo Hospitals, aimed at simplifying and minimising the invasiveness of cancer detection.

The test, named Shield Multi-Cancer Detection (MCD), has been developed by Guardant Health, a company based in the United States. Under an exclusive agreement with Guardant, Zydus will offer this test in India. Additionally, Apollo Hospitals has signed a memorandum of understanding facilitating the test’s availability to eligible individuals nation-wide.

Reports indicate that Dr Dang’s Lab, located in Delhi, is also planning to provide this test across the country, further expanding access to this groundbreaking technology.

Technology and Functionality of the Test

The Shield MCD is specifically designed for individuals aged 45 years and above who are considered to be at average risk of developing cancer. The test examines cancer-related alterations in circulating DNA in the bloodstream, identified as methylation patterns, which may suggest the presence of cancer.

This blood test screens for various types of cancer, including bladder, breast, colorectal, liver, lung, oesophageal, gastric, ovarian, pancreatic, and prostate cancers, many of which are among the most lethal in India due to late diagnosis.

Unlike traditional methods focused on individual cancers, this test aims to detect multiple cancer signals simultaneously from one blood sample. However, healthcare professionals caution that a positive result does not confirm a cancer diagnosis but indicates the necessity for further tests such as scans or biopsies. Similarly, a negative result does not entirely eliminate the risk of cancer, underscoring the need for routine medical evaluations when symptoms appear.

Scientific Developments and Broader Implications

The rollout of this test coincides with new global insights concerning multi-cancer early detection (MCED) blood tests, set to be shared at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Breakthrough meeting. These findings, derived from a significant real-world study spanning six Asian nations, highlight the potential of such tests as vital components of cancer screening protocols, particularly in regions with limited organised screening programmes.

Research indicates that the primary advantage of these multi-cancer tests lies in their ability to detect cancers that currently lack widespread screening, such as pancreatic and liver cancers, which are often diagnosed only after symptoms emerge. Experts argue that MCED tests should be viewed as complementary tools rather than replacements for diagnostic tests, as they cannot ascertain the presence of cancer definitively.

Dr Prathap C. Reddy, Chairman of Apollo Hospitals, reiterated the importance of enhancing access to reliable screening as a means of alleviating the cancer burden in the country. He emphasised that the future of healthcare lies not only in treating diseases but also in early detection and prevention strategies.

In India, urgent attention to cancer screening is needed, with over 1.41 million new cases reported in 2022 and more than 900,000 deaths attributed to the disease. The release of the Shield MCD test signifies a potential turning point in improving cancer management and outcomes in the country.

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