How to detect cancer early using cell-free DNA

Cell-free circulating DNA (cfDNA) analyses may enable multi-cancer early detection (MCED), but the most suitable method is unknown. In this issue of Cancer Cell, Jamshidi et al. compare ten machine-learning classifiers using various cfDNA features and conclude that cfDNA methylation patterns are most promising for MCED testing. Cell-free circulating DNA (cfDNA) analyses may enable multi-cancer early detection (MCED), but the most suitable method is unknown. In this issue of Cancer Cell, Jamshidi et al. compare ten machine-learning classifiers using various cfDNA features and conclude that cfDNA methylation patterns are most promising for MCED testing.