MethylScan: A Low-Cost Blood Test for Early, Multi-Disease Detection

UCLA researchers report MethylScan, a simple, affordable test that analyzes DNA methylation in circulating cell-free DNA to detect multiple cancers and liver diseases, and to indicate tissue of origin and organ health. In 1,061 samples, it achieved about 98% specificity, ~63% cancer detection across stages (~55% for early-stage) and ~80% detection of liver cancers in high‑risk groups, with a sequencing depth of ~300× costing under $20 per test as costs fall. By reducing background DNA, it functions as a system-wide health monitor, though larger prospective studies are needed to confirm real-world effectiveness.