Health Corner

When people talk about taking an mRNA test, they’re usually referring to using mRNA dynamic gene technology to detect circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the blood — a method for early or ultra-early cancer screening.
This means mRNA technology is no longer limited to its role in COVID-19 vaccines; it has now become a tool for cancer detection.

This test requires only a few milliliters of blood to analyze whether there are abnormal tumor cells present in the body. It is regarded as a way to preliminarily assess the risk of malignant tumors through a simple blood draw. Because of this convenience and effectiveness, mRNA screening has become increasingly recommended in private medical centers in recent years.

What makes mRNA screening so powerful?

Here are the top three advantages:

• High sensitivity
  Research and clinical data show that mRNA circulating tumor cell detection can identify tumors as small as about 0.2 cm—earlier than imaging methods such as CT or MRI. The reported sensitivity and specificity reach about 93–97%, meaning the risks of false positives or missed detections are relatively low.

• Minimally invasive, radiation-free
  It only requires a single venous blood draw, with no radiation exposure and no need for insertion or biopsy, making it suitable for regular health checks and ongoing monitoring.

• Broad application across multiple cancers
  mRNA technology can screen for ultra-early stages of many common cancers in both men and women, including lung, colorectal, breast, liver, and prostate cancers, helping detect risks before symptoms appear.

Why has mRNA screening become so popular?

• mRNA became mainstream due to COVID-19
  The widespread rollout of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines has made the public more familiar with the concept of mRNA technology and its safety. This familiarity has increased the acceptance of using mRNA for cancer screening.

• A complement to traditional tumor markers
  In the past, health checkups often relied on tumor marker tests for preliminary screening, but these have limited sensitivity and specificity, and may be affected by inflammation or other conditions. Imaging technologies like X-ray, ultrasound, MRI, and PET scans also cannot detect very small cancer cells, making them unsuitable for ultra-early screening.
  mRNA testing serves as a high-precision complementary tool, helping to reduce misleading positive results.

• Especially suitable for high-risk individuals
  People with a family history of cancer, advanced age, long-term smoking or alcohol use, obesity, or prolonged exposure to pollution or radiation are often advised by doctors or private healthcare providers to include mRNA screening in their regular health checkups as a proactive risk-detection measure.