LungCanSeek: New Blood Test Offers Affordable and Accurate Early Detection of Lung Cancer

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A groundbreaking study published in Translational Lung Cancer Research reveals the potential of LungCanSeek, a novel blood test that uses four protein markers and artificial intelligence, to transform lung cancer screening by making early detection both highly effective and cost-efficient for broad populations, including those in low- and middle-income countries.

Key Highlights

• High Accuracy: LungCanSeek demonstrated an overall sensitivity of 83.5% and specificity of 90.3% in detecting lung cancer.
• Subtype Identification: The test successfully classified lung cancer subtypes—lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC), and small cell lung cancer (SCLC)—with 77.4% accuracy.
• Early Stage Detection: Sensitivity reached 67.2% for early-stage cases, critical for improving survival rates.
• Cost-Effectiveness: The two-step screening approach (LungCanSeek followed by low-dose CT for positives) reduced false positives by over tenfold and screening costs by 2.5 times compared to low-dose CT screening.
• Simple Implementation: The test leverages four widely available protein markers (CEA, CYFRA 21-1, ProGRP, SCCA) and standard lab equipment, with an estimated reagent cost of only $15 per test.

Study Overview

Led by Dr. Mao Mao and a multidisciplinary team from leading Chinese hospitals, the multicenter retrospective study enrolled 1,814 participants, including 1,095 lung cancer patients. Blood samples were analyzed for four protein markers. The AI-driven algorithm combined protein marker levels with participant age and gender to detect lung cancer and its subtypes.

Two-Step Screening: A Game-Changer

To address the high false-positive rate and cost of low-dose computed tomography (LDCT), the researchers modeled a two-step approach. High-risk individuals are first screened with LungCanSeek; only those testing positive are referred for LDCT. This model not only drastically reduced unnecessary follow-up procedures and associated costs but also maintained a high detection rate of true cancer cases. The approach could enable population-wide lung cancer screening programs, even where access to expensive imaging is limited.

Clinical Impact

LungCanSeek, the AI-driven blood test evaluated in this study, offers significant clinical impact by providing an effective, affordable, and non-invasive solution for early lung cancer detection. Its high sensitivity and specificity across lung cancer subtypes enable accurate identification of patients who may benefit from timely intervention. The test can be easily implemented using standard clinical laboratory equipment and reagents that cost only $15 per test, making it highly accessible—even in low- and middle-income countries. By enabling a two-step screening strategy—initial blood testing followed by low-dose CT only for positives—LungCanSeek substantially reduces false positives and unnecessary follow-up procedures, as well as overall screening costs. This approach has the potential to transform lung cancer screening programs, increase early detection rates, and ultimately improve patient survival outcomes while reducing the burden on healthcare systems.

"LungCanSeek's performance surpasses many existing blood-based and imaging-only screening approaches. Its affordability and ease of use make it especially valuable for expanding early lung cancer detection in resource-constrained settings," said Dr. Mao Mao, corresponding author and Founder & CEO at SeekIn Inc. The publication can be found at https://tlcr.amegroups.org/article/view/105920.

Looking Ahead

The authors note LungCanSeek's ability to boost screening coverage and reduce healthcare burdens, with potential for implementation in national screening strategies.

About LungCanSeek

LungCanSeek is an innovative, blood-based diagnostic test for the early detection of lung cancer. It measures the levels of four protein tumor markers—CEA, CYFRA 21-1, ProGRP, and SCCA—combined with patient age and gender, to evaluate lung cancer risk using an advanced artificial intelligence algorithm. In addition, the test can predict the major subtypes of lung cancer. Designed for use with standard clinical laboratory equipment, LungCanSeek is non-invasive, cost-efficient, and simple to integrate into routine practice.

About SeekIn

SeekIn Inc. is a biotech company founded in early 2018 in Shenzhen, China, focusing on blood-based pan-cancer early detection utilizing next-generation sequencing and artificial intelligence. Since its creation, SeekIn has been committed to providing cutting-edge and cost-effective solutions for cancer early detection, postoperative recurrence monitoring, and treatment response evaluation. SeekIn has also developed novel molecular tests for leukemia patients and its cancer early detection technology has also successfully been applied to canines. With its proprietary technical advances, SeekIn has launched a number of research and clinical studies in collaboration with top-tier hospitals in China. SeekIn envisions that, by leading a new norm for cancer early detection, the clinical outcomes of mid-/late-stage cancer patients can be reversed, and the cancer mortality rate can be reduced by 15%. For more information about SeekIn's cutting-edge technologies and products, visit www.seekincancer.com.

SOURCE SeekIn Inc