Exact Sciences’ colon cancer blood test shows initial promise

Exact Sciences, which has for years sold a stool-based colon cancer test, on Monday announced that a blood-based test it’s developing showed promise in accurately detecting the disease.

In a study of more than 3,000 samples, the company reported that its test detected 88.3% of cancers and correctly returned a negative result 90.1% of the time, test features known as sensitivity and specificity, respectively. Notably, the test also detected 31.2% of advanced precancers, abnormal cell growths that precede disease.

It’s the first time Exact has shared data on the performance of its blood test, with the announcement coming at the European Society for Medical Oncology conference in Barcelona, Spain. While the initial results suggest that Exact’s test could be a competitive alternative to others already on the market, the findings come from a small study intended to help the biotech refine the algorithms and biomarkers powering the test. A larger and more definitive study is still underway, and Exact expects to report results from that trial in the first half of next year and to then apply for Food and Drug Administration approval.