MCED Testing: Preparing for the Next Era of Cancer Risk Assessment

In an interview with Targeted Oncology^TM, Ranjit Goudar, MD, of Virginia Oncology Associates, explores how emerging technologies and evolving care models are poised to reshape hereditary cancer risk assessment and early cancer detection—and what community oncology practices can do now to prepare.

Goudar highlights the promise of multicancer early detection (MCED) testing, describing it as a potentially transformative advancement for identifying cancer in asymptomatic individuals before disease becomes clinically apparent. While current MCED assays are not yet ready for routine clinical use due to high false-positive rates and the need for further validation, he anticipates rapid progress over the next several years. As these tests become more widely adopted, particularly among Medicare beneficiaries, community oncology practices may see a significant influx of healthy individuals requiring diagnostic workups following positive screening results.

Goudar focuses on the operational implications of this shift. Traditionally, community oncologists have cared primarily for patients with symptomatic or advanced disease, requiring immediate treatment planning and symptom management. Moving toward earlier detection and cancer prevention will require practices to rethink provider training, patient flow, referral pathways, and long-term follow-up for individuals at elevated risk.

He also discusses the expanding role of genetic testing, predicting that broad hereditary cancer testing could eventually become routine for much of the population. However, he notes that increasing access alone will not eliminate disparities in testing uptake or follow-through. To prepare for the future, he encourages community oncology teams to develop structured workflows for identifying high-risk patients, coordinating multidisciplinary care, and monitoring patients over time as genetic discoveries and management guidelines continue to evolve. Together, these efforts can help position community practices at the forefront of personalized cancer prevention and early detection.