HCGMCC Develops Blood Test to Detect 30 Cancers with 98% Accuracy
The study, conducted on 6,445 participants, including 2,831 untreated cancer patients across all stages, is India’s largest clinical trial of its kind and was published in Cancer Reports.
A research team led by Dr. Raj Nagarkar at HCG Manavata Cancer Centre (HCGMCC), Nashik, has introduced a blood-based diagnostic test capable of identifying 30 types of cancer with an average accuracy of 98.4%.
The study, conducted on 6,445 participants, including 2,831 untreated cancer patients across all stages, is India’s largest clinical trial and was published in Cancer Reports.
The test analyses over 8,000 metabolites in blood serum using high-resolution mass spectrometry. It applies a Cancer Detection Artificial Intelligence (CDAI) algorithm developed with PredOmix Technologies. The tool achieved 98.9% sensitivity in detecting Stage I cancers.
Commenting on the development, Dr. Raj Nagarkar said, “The test profiles over 8,000 metabolites in blood serum. In a clinical trial involving 6,445 participants, including 2,831 cancer patients, the test demonstrated near-perfect accuracy across all stages (I–IV) and age groups (20 to 80+ years). Notably, it identified Stage I cancers with 98.9 per cent sensitivity, addressing a critical gap in oncology where most tumours are diagnosed too late for curative treatment.”
AI-Driven Metabolomics Offers Scalable, Early Detection Approach
The platform, powered by machine learning, detects early-stage cancers by identifying unique metabolic fingerprints in blood. It differs from traditional DNA-based diagnostics, which are often limited by low biomarker presence in early stages.
“Cancer’s stealth lies in its silence during early stages. By decoding the metabolic ‘fingerprint’ of tumours left in blood, we’ve created a universal sentinel that alerts us before symptoms arise. This development marks a turning point in how we may screen for cancer,” Dr. Nagarkar stated.
He further added, “With cancer projected to become the leading cause of global mortality by 2030, early detection remains the most viable strategy to curb deaths. Current screening methods cover only five cancers and suffer from high false-positive rates. The new test, validated in a single-blinded trial, reduces over-diagnosis risks while expanding coverage to thirty malignancies.”
Next Steps: Multi-Centre Trials and Tissue Origin Mapping
The test is registered under CTRI/2023/03/050316 and has received all required ethics approvals. It was developed in collaboration with institutions including PredOmix Health Sciences, North East Cancer Hospital, and IPGME&R.
Future plans include multi-centre clinical trials and integration of tissue-of-origin prediction to support more targeted diagnostics and treatment.
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