News Release

Cancer diagnostic delay rates associated with a population-based screening trial evaluating a cell-free DNA multicancer early detection test

JAMA

Peer-Reviewed Publication

JAMA Network

About The Study: Regional participation in a population-based multicancer early detection (MCED) screening trial was associated with a modest increase in diagnostic delay rates for patients referred for suspected head and neck, lung, and upper gastrointestinal cancers. This increase is unlikely to have materially affected interpretation of the MCED screening trial primary findings. Future trials of population-based screening interventions likely to affect demand for limited health care resources should consider monitoring for system-level spillover effects. 

Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Sean Mann, MSc, email smann@rand.org.

To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/

(doi:10.1001/jama.2026.6803)

Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support.

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Media advisory: This study is being presented at the 2026 AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting.

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