BLOODPAC: Collaborating to chart a path towards blood‐based screening for early cancer detection

2 More recently, the incorporation of molecular human papillomavirus testing increased sensitivity for detection of cervical cancer and allowed for less frequent screening. Based on lessons learned from existing screening efforts, such tests will require clinical evidence development frameworks that address the tension between proximal (e.g., sensitivity and specificity) and distal (e.g., cancer-specific or overall mortality) end points. 5 In the journey from bench to bedside, developers of liquid biopsy technologies need to navigate a host of challenges. A more consistent lexicon and standardized measures across all cancer screening and early detection efforts to align evaluation of benefit/harm in clinical trials. Blood draws can reduce barriers to access, such as transportation insecurity and geography (e.g., rural vs. urban), and may be more acceptable to underserved communities when compared to more invasive or inconvenient conventional screening approaches (e.g., colonoscopy, CT screening for lung cancer, or mammography).