---
title: "Multi-cancer early detection tests: PATHFINDER 2 and NHS-Galleri offer evidence but population ben"
id: "nature-0-some-answers-more-questions-for-multi-cancer-early-detection-tests"
canonical_url: "https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/nature-0-some-answers-more-questions-for-multi-cancer-early-detection-tests"
content_type: "clinical_feed_article"
specialty: "Oncology"
source_name: "Nature Medicine"
source_url: "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-026-04688-w"
published_at: "2026-09-22T12:00:00.000Z"
evidence_level: "Journal Feed"
license: "CC-BY-NC-4.0 / Informational Use"
---
# Multi-cancer early detection tests: PATHFINDER 2 and NHS-Galleri offer evidence but population ben
## Provenance & Clinical Metadata
- **Canonical URL:** https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/nature-0-some-answers-more-questions-for-multi-cancer-early-detection-tests
- **Specialty:** [Oncology](https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/oncology.md)
- **Primary Source:** Nature Medicine
- **Source URL:** [Original Journal Publication](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-026-04688-w)
- **Published At:** 2026-09-22T12:00:00.000Z
- **Evidence Rating:** Journal Feed
## Executive GIST (TL;DR)
- The Nature Medicine piece reports that the **PATHFINDER 2** and **NHS-Galleri** studies offer complementary evidence on the clinical performance, safety and implementation of **multi-cancer early detection (MCED)** tests. - Both studies advance understanding of how MCED tests perform in practice, but the article emphasizes that demonstrating a clear **population-level benefit** remains the principal unresolved challenge. - The published item is a News & Views style commentary by Marinac, Rebbeck and O’Donnell and appears as a preview of subscription content; the publicly available text is limited and some study details are not reported in the accessible source. - The authors note relevance to biomarker and health-care practice but do not provide trial-specific metrics, outcomes, or methods in the accessible preview. - Competing-interest disclosures are reported: C.R.M. consults for Natera; E.K.O. consults for multiple diagnostics and pharmaceutical companies and receives research funding; T.R.R. declares no competing interests. - The article cites related primary publications and trials (refs listed) that include PATHFINDER 2 and NHS-Galleri reports and other relevant studies, but full data and methodological detail require access to the subscription content or original trial reports. - The commentary frames MCED tests as promising for screening across cancer types while cautioning that implementation, downstream clinical pathways, and demonstrable reductions in cancer mortality or morbidity at the population level remain to be established.
## Clinical Analysis & Structured Key Points
Some answers, more questions for multi-cancer early detection tests | Nature Medicine Skip to main content Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript. Advertisement The PATHFINDER 2 and NHS-Galleri studies provide complementary evidence on the clinical performance, safety and implementation of multi-cancer early detection, while underscoring the next challenge: demonstrating population-level benefit. This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution Access options Access through your institution Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription $32.99 / 30 days cancel any time Learn more Subscribe to this journal Receive 12 print issues and online access $259.00 per year only $21.58 per issue Learn more Rent or buy this article Prices vary by article type from $1.95 to $39.95 Learn more Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout Subjects Biomarkers Health care References Ofman, J. J. et al. Cancer Biomark 42 , 18758592241308754 (2025). Article PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar McCowan, C. et al. Br. J. Cancer 121 , 710–714 (2019). Article CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar Sabatino, S. A. et al. Prev. Chronic Dis. 22 , E52 (2025). Article PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar Neal, R. D. et al. Nat. Med. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-026-04652-8 (2026). Article PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar Nabavizadeh, N. et al. Nat. Med. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-026-04618-w (2026). Article Google Scholar Sasieni, P. et al. N. Engl. J. Med. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2505723 (2026). Article PubMed Google Scholar Liu, M. C. et al. Ann. Oncol. 31 , 745–759 (2020). Article CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar Klein, E. A. et al. Ann. Oncol. 32 , 1167–1177 (2021). Article CAS PubMed Google Scholar Schrag, D. et al. Lancet 402 , 1251–1260 (2023). Article PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar Matrana, M. et al. Nat. Commun. 16 , 9625 (2025). Article CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar Lennon, A. M. et al. Cancer Prev. Res. 17 , 355–359 (2024). Article CAS Google Scholar Nadauld, L. et al. Lancet Oncol. 26 , 165–174 (2025). Article PubMed Google Scholar Download references Author information Authors and Affiliations Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA Catherine R. Marinac, Timothy R. Rebbeck & Elizabeth K. O’Donnell Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA Catherine R. Marinac & Elizabeth K. O’Donnell Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA Timothy R. Rebbeck Centers for Early Detection and Interception, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA Elizabeth K. O’Donnell Authors Catherine R. Marinac View author publications Search author on: PubMed Google Scholar Timothy R. Rebbeck View author publications Search author on: PubMed Google Scholar Elizabeth K. O’Donnell View author publications Search author on: PubMed Google Scholar Corresponding author Correspondence to Catherine R. Marinac . Ethics declarations Competing interests C.R.M. receives consulting fees from Natera. E.K.O. is a consultant to Natera, Grail, Abbott, Sanofi, BMS, and receives research funding from Regeneron. T.R.R. declares no competing interests. Rights and permissions Reprints and permissions About this article Cite this article Marinac, C.R., Rebbeck, T.R. & O’Donnell, E.K. Some answers, more questions for multi-cancer early detection tests. Nat Med (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-026-04688-w Download citation Published : 22 September 2026 Version of record : 22 September 2026 DOI : https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-026-04688-w Share this article Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: Get shareable link Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article. Copy shareable link to clipboard Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative Access through your institution Buy or subscribe Advertisement Search Search articles by subject, keyword or author Show results from All journals This journal Search Advanced search Quick links Explore articles by subject Find a job Guide to authors Editorial policies Close banner Close Sign up for the Nature Briefing: Translational Research newsletter — top stories in biotechnology, drug discovery and pharma. Email address Sign up I agree my information will be processed in accordance with the Nature and Springer Nature Limited Privacy Policy . Close banner Close Get what matters in translational research, free to your inbox weekly. Sign up for Nature Briefing: Translational Research
## Related Clinical Research

- [Symptom network analysis in gastric cancer: tools, core and bridge symptoms, and temporal patterns](https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/plos-one-4-application-of-symptom-network-analysis-among-patients-with-gastric-cancer-a.md)
- [Impact of Adjuvant Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors on HRQoL in Renal Cell Carcinoma: Qualitative RAMP](https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/plos-one-10-health-related-quality-of-life-with-adjuvant-immune-checkpoint-inhibition-in.md)
- [Trastuzumab + nivolumab with gemcitabine–cisplatin as first-line therapy for HER2-positive unresec](https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/nature-3-trastuzumab-plus-nivolumab-with-gemcitabine-and-cisplatin-as-first-line-therapy.md)
- [EAGLE: AI detection of esophageal cancer on noncontrast CT for large‑scale screening](https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/nature-1-large-scale-esophageal-cancer-screening-through-noncontrast-computed-tomography.md)
- [Through-the-scope twin clip (TTS‑TC) vs titanium clips for gastric EFTR defect closure](https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/pubmed-42768943.md) (DOI: 10.1080/07853890.2026.2735108)

## Navigation
- [← Back to Oncology Feed](https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/oncology.md)
- [← All Clinical Specialties](https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed.md)
## Medical & Regulatory Disclaimer

> [!CAUTION]
> MedicHelpline content is structured for research, educational, and professional discovery purposes. It does not constitute individual medical advice, clinical diagnosis, or treatment recommendations.
> Always verify dosing, contraindications, and regulatory alerts against official product labeling and primary regulatory sources before clinical decision-making.