Initial findings from a clinical trial on the use of biomarkers for cancer detection in patients with early-stage germ cell tumors were presented by study co-chair Dr. Lucia Nappi at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Conference in Chicago. The results demonstrate that a simple blood test could help clinicians identify patients at higher risk of relapse more accurately and earlier than current monitoring methods.

The findings from the ASCO presentation were covered by the Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG).

🔗 Read the full story: A simple blood test may detect tumor relapse in patients with early-stage germ cell tumors

“This trial confirms that a simple blood test for miR371 has high accuracy to detect tumor relapse in patients with early-stage germ cell tumors managed with active surveillance after orchiectomy,” says Dr. Nappi, a senior research scientist at the M.H. Mohseni Institute of Urologic Sciences.

The initial findings show that a negative miR371 test is associated with the absence of a tumor in 90% of cases. After 37.5 months of follow-up, only 6% of cases showed false-positive miR371 results. Ongoing clinical trials are exploring the best ways to incorporate this testing into clinical practice and minimize unnecessary treatments for patients at lower risk.

“These data support more specific clinical trials, allowing us to understand how to use this biomarker to de-escalate the number of CT scans during active surveillance. It also has potential to decrease the use of chemotherapy in patients who relapse, by diagnosing the relapse earlier.”

About Dr. Lucia Nappi

Dr. Lucia Nappi is a medical oncologist and clinician scientist with an MD and PhD. Her research focuses on the discovery and validation of biomarkers in genitourinary (GU) cancers, particularly in patients with prostate and testis cancer. Dr. Nappi is a senior research scientist at the Vancouver Prostate Centre at the M.H. Mohseni Institute of Urologic Sciences and an assistant professor in the Department of Urologic Sciences at the University of British Columbia.