Sensitivity Measures in Studies of Cancer Early Detection Biomarkers.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The sensitivity of a cancer screening biomarker to detect prevalent preclinical cancer drives screening benefit. Studies estimate sensitivity at different points in the biomarker development process. We examine how closely these estimates reflect the sensitivity to detect preclinical cancer (preclinical sensitivity).

Methods

We posit that preclinical sensitivity is inversely proportional to the preclinical sojourn time. We simulate studies and estimates of sensitivity corresponding to the Early Detection Research Network's Phases of Biomarker Development. Sensitivity estimates based on clinically diagnosed cases (phase II, clinical sensitivity), archived-sample studies (phase III, archived-sample sensitivity), and prospectively screened cohorts (phases IV and V, p

SUBMITTER: Zhao Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12135019 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature