Blood Test Spots Lingering Lung Cancer Early

Patients treated for lung cancer may one day have a blood-based way to detect recurrence sooner than scans allow.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Cancer

Screen-print poster illustration of a row of plain glass vials with amber liquid, one vial lit in the foreground against a neutral background. — Researchers reported that a blood test can detect lingering lung cancer after surgery or initial treatment, potentially flagging recurrence before tumors appear on scans. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

A study published in the Journal of Molecular Diagnostics found that a blood test can detect residual lung cancer after surgery or initial treatment. Negative test results were associated with sustained remission and better outcomes for patients.

Why it matters

Imaging scans have been the first line for spotting recurring lung cancer for decades, but a tumor must grow large enough to show up on a scan. A blood test that picks up lingering cancer traces earlier could help patients avoid unnecessary overtreatment or receive targeted treatment sooner.

The study, published in the Journal of Molecular Diagnostics, evaluated a blood test for detecting residual lung cancer after surgery or initial treatment. Specific sample size and performance metrics were not provided in the source material.

The players

NYU Langone Health and the Perlmutter Cancer Center

A New York academic medical center with a cancer program that led the study on the blood test.

C22i Genomics

A company whose researchers developed the blood test used in the study.

Asaf Zviran, PhD

A researcher at C22i Genomics who developed the blood test used in the study.

Matija Snuderl, MD

A pathologist at NYU Langone Health who led the study.

The details

The blood test looks for traces of lingering lung cancer in the bloodstream, before a tumor is large enough to be visible on a scan. Non-small-cell lung cancer is the most common type of lung cancer, and surgical removal of early-stage tumors is an effective treatment for some patients. Because recurrence affects an estimated 5% to 19% of these patients, a test that flags residual disease early could help clinicians decide who needs further treatment.

Article on the blood test was published on November 5, 2026.

Health Landscape

Imaging scans have been the standard first line for diagnosing recurring lung cancer for decades. This blood test represents an attempt to detect residual disease before a tumor becomes large enough to appear on those scans.

If you have had lung cancer treated with surgery or other initial therapy, your care team may already be monitoring you with scans, and it is worth asking whether a blood-based approach could complement that monitoring. Discuss any questions about recurrence surveillance with your oncologist, who can judge what fits your situation.

The takeaway

Blood tests for detecting lingering lung cancer are an emerging area that may eventually help catch recurrence earlier than imaging alone. Patients who want to know whether such testing is appropriate for their follow-up care should raise the question with their oncology team.