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Preferences for multi-cancer tests (MCTs) in primary care: discrete choice experiments of general practitioners and the general public in England

Abstract:
Background
Multi-Cancer tests (MCTs) hold potential to detect cancer across multiple sites and some predict the origin of the cancer signal. Understanding stakeholder preferences for MCTs could help to develop appealing MCTs, encouraging their adoption.

Methods
Discrete Choice Experiments (DCEs) conducted online in England.

Results
GPs (n = 251) and the general public (n = 1005) preferred MCTs that maximised negative predictive value, positive predictive value, and could test for a larger number of cancer sites. A reduction of the NPV of 4.0% was balanced by a 12.5% increase in the PPV for people and a 32.5% increase in PPV for GPs. People from ethnic minority backgrounds placed less importance on whether MCTs can detect multiple cancers. People with more knowledge and experience of cancer placed substantial importance on the MCT being able to detect cancer at an early stage. Both GPs and members of the public preferred the MCT reported in the SYMPLIFY study to FIT, PSA, and CA125, and preferred the SYMPLIFY MCT to 91% (GPs) and 95% (people) of 2048 simulated MCTs.

Conclusions
These findings provide a basis for designing clinical implementation strategies for MCTs, according to their performance characteristics.
Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.1038/s41416-025-03063-9

Authors

More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
Nuffield Department of Population Health
Oxford college:
Green Templeton College
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0002-4157-4217
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
Primary Care Health Sciences
Role:
Author
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
Oncology
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0003-0167-1685
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
Primary Care Health Sciences
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0001-7976-7172


More from this funder
Funder identifier:
https://ror.org/054225q67
Grant:
CTRQQR-2021\1000002


Publisher:
Springer Nature
Journal:
British Journal of Cancer More from this journal
Volume:
133
Issue:
3
Pages:
394–403
Publication date:
2025-06-02
Acceptance date:
2025-05-12
DOI:
EISSN:
1532-1827
ISSN:
0007-0920


Language:
English
Pubs id:
2127773
Local pid:
pubs:2127773
Deposit date:
2025-06-03
ARK identifier:

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