FDA approves another blood test for colon cancer screening
- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved SimpleScreen, a new blood test designed to help diagnose colorectal cancer, the second-leading cause of U.S. cancer deaths.
- Developed by Freenome, SimpleScreen is intended for adults aged 45 and older who are at average risk for colorectal cancer, detecting DNA signals linked to the disease.
- The test aims to increase screening rates by offering a convenient alternative, with results available in a couple of weeks, though a positive result necessitates a follow-up colonoscopy.
- A study involving over 48,000 adults found SimpleScreen detected approximately eight out of ten colorectal cancers and produced correct negative results for nine out of ten people without the disease.
- The approval comes as colorectal cancer rates are spiking in the U.S., particularly among young adults, with the disease predicted to become the leading cause of cancer death for people under 50 by 2030.
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