# Advancements in blood-based colorectal cancer detection > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/advancements-in-blood-based-colorectal-cancer-detection > Updated: 2026-10-19T16:31:53.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2. Recent clinical data and research highlight advancements in blood-based screening methods for colorectal cancer (CRC). Clinical updates regarding the SimpleScreen CRC test show improved sensitivity for detecting advanced precancerous lesions, rising from 13.7% to 18.2%, while maintaining an 80.4% sensitivity for colorectal cancer. Additionally, modeling of Guardant Health’s Shield test suggests that blood-based screening may be more effective than traditional stool-based methods at increasing follow-up colonoscopies and averting deaths. Parallel research into protein biomarkers has identified specific signatures capable of distinguishing advanced neoplasia. Studies involving the Olink platform, including the DIOPTRA project, demonstrated that a 12-protein signature achieved 98.1% sensitivity for CRC detection, with a 17-protein signature maintaining 94.4% sensitivity for Stage I disease. Further findings indicate that protein differences vary between colon and rectal cancers, suggesting a need for site-specific diagnostic signatures. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-19: Blood-based protein biomarkers show promise for early colorectal cancer detection New research identifies blood-based protein signatures that can detect colorectal cancer with high sensitivity, potentially offering a minimally invasive alternative for early-stage screening. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/blood-based-protein-biomarkers-show-promise-for-early-colorectal-cancer-detection ### 2026-10-14: Blood-based colorectal cancer tests show improved detection and survival rates New research presented at the ACG 2026 meeting shows blood-based colorectal cancer tests, including Freenome’s SimpleScreen CRC and Guardant Health’s Shield, may improve lesion detection and survival rates. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/blood-based-colorectal-cancer-tests-show-improved-detection-and-survival-rates --- Cite as: Advancements in blood-based colorectal cancer detection. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/advancements-in-blood-based-colorectal-cancer-detection