The new generation of cancer early detection tests holds remarkable promise for revolutionizing and changing the paradigm of cancer early detection. Dozens of cancer early detection tests are being developed and evaluated. Some are already commercialized and available for use, most as a complement to and not in place of existing recommended cancer screening tests. This review evaluates existing single- and multi-cancer early detection tests (MCEDs), discussing their performance characteristics including sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and accuracy. It also critically looks at the potential harms that could result from these tests, including false positive and negative results, the risk of overdiagnosis and overtreatment, psychological and economic harms, and the risk of widening cancer inequities. We also review the large-scale, population-based studies that are being launched in the United States and United Kingdom to determine the impact of MCEDs on clinically relevant outcomes and implications for current practice.

中文翻译：

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多种癌症早期检测：癌症早期检测的新领域

新一代癌症早期检测测试有望彻底改变癌症早期检测的范式。数十种癌症早期检测测试正在开发和评估中。有些已经商业化并可供使用，大多数作为现有推荐的癌症筛查测试的补充而不是替代。本综述评估了现有的单一和多种癌症早期检测（MCED），讨论了它们的性能特征，包括敏感性、特异性、阳性和阴性预测值以及准确性。它还批判性地审视这些测试可能造成的潜在危害，包括假阳性和阴性结果、过度诊断和过度治疗的风险、心理和经济伤害以及癌症不平等扩大的风险。我们还回顾了美国和英国正在开展的大规模、以人群为基础的研究，以确定 MCED 对临床相关结果的影响以及对当前实践的影响。