Multi-cancer early detection tests for cancer screening: a behavioural science perspective

Identifying circulating cell-free tumour DNA in blood offers the potential for multi-cancer early detection (MCED) tests. Several trials assessing the effect of MCED tests on early asymptomatic cancer detection are underway (eg, ISRCTN91431511 and NCT04213326). MCED tests differ substantially from existing cancer screening tests (appendix p 1). If MCED tests are shown to improve cancer outcomes, careful consideration of other potential benefits and harms will be essential before these are made available to the general population. 1 Many of these are psychological or behavioural, making theory-driven behavioural research indispensable to their successful implementation