Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31200676›Full record

ArticleBMC cancer2019

Evaluating diagnostic strategies for early detection of cancer: the CanTest framework.

Fiona M Walter, Matthew J Thompson, Ian Wellwood, Gary A Abel, William Hamilton, Margaret Johnson, Georgios Lyratzopoulos, Michael P Messenger, Richard D Neal, Greg Rubin and 5 more

Registry-linked trialOpen access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC cancer, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT04166240 (Measuring and Improving the Safety of Test Result Follow-Up), which is not on this map. Cited by 30 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
30citing papers in PubMed, 5 pooled it
2.2field-weighted citation impact, top 12% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT04166240 nacompletednot on this map

Measuring and Improving the Safety of Test Result Follow-Up

TypeinterventionalSponsorVA Office of Research and DevelopmentRan2018 to 2023Enrolled46ConditionsLung Cancer, Breast Cancer, Colon Cancer, Bladder CancerArmsSAFER TRACKS Intervention
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

30 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 55 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Pooled it
  5. Pooled it
  6. Article
  7. Bugs as drugs: parasite biomolecules as novel therapeutics against breast cancer.American journal of physiology. Cell physiology · 2026
    Review
  8. Review
  9. Review
  10. Article
  11. The Acceptability of Diagnostic Tests in the United Kingdom.Patient preference and adherence · 2025
    Article
  12. Article
  13. Article
  14. Acceptability of magnetic resonance imaging for prostate cancer diagnosis with patients and GPs: a qualitative interview study.The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners · 2024
    Article
  15. Article
  16. Transforming post pandemic cancer services.British journal of cancer · 2024
    Review
  17. Article
  18. Article
  19. Review
  20. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors at 9 institutions in 4 countries.

Fiona M WalterThe Primary Care Unit, Department of Public Health & Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB1 8RN, UK. fmw22@medschl.cam.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7191-6476
Matthew J ThompsonDepartment of Family Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, USA.
Ian WellwoodThe Primary Care Unit, Department of Public Health & Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB1 8RN, UK.
Gary A AbelUniversity of Exeter, St Luke's Campus, Exeter, EX1 2LU, UK.
William HamiltonUniversity of Exeter, St Luke's Campus, Exeter, EX1 2LU, UK.
Margaret JohnsonThe Primary Care Unit, Department of Public Health & Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB1 8RN, UK.
Georgios LyratzopoulosDepartment of Behavioural Science and Health, Epidemiology of Cancer Healthcare and Outcomes (ECHO) Research Group, University College London, London, UK.
Michael P MessengerNational Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Leeds In Vitro Diagnostic Cooperative (IVDC), Leeds Centre for Personalised Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Richard D NealAcademic Unit of Primary Care, Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Greg RubinInstitute of Health and Society, University of Newcastle, Sir James Spence Institute, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle, NE1 4LP, UK.
Hardeep SinghCenter for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
Anne SpencerHealth Economics Group, University of Exeter, St Luke's Campus, Exeter, EX1 2LU, Devon, UK.
Stephen SuttonThe Primary Care Unit, Department of Public Health & Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB1 8RN, UK.
Peter VedstedResearch Centre for Cancer Diagnosis - CaP, The Research Unit for General Practice and Research Clinic for Innovative Health Care Delivery, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Bartholins Alle 2, 8000, Aarhus, Denmark.
Jon D EmeryCentre for Cancer Research and Department of General Practice, University of Melbourne, 10th floor, Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan St, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia.
University of Cambridge · GBUniversity of Exeter · GBUniversity of Leeds · GBAarhus University · DKMichael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center · USRoyal Victoria Infirmary · GBThe University of Melbourne · AUUniversity College London · GBUniversity of Washington · US

Funding

Cancer Research UK 17940Cancer Research UK 18180Cancer Research UK C8640/A23385
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundNovel diagnostic triage and testing strategies to support early detection of cancer could improve clinical outcomes. Most apparently promising diagnostic tests ultimately fail because of inadequate performance in real-world, low prevalence populations such as primary care or general community populations. They should therefore be systematically evaluated before implementation to determine whether they lead to earlier detection, are cost-effective, and improve patient safety and quality of care, while minimising over-investigation and over-diagnosis.

methodsWe performed a systematic scoping review of frameworks for the evaluation of tests and diagnostic approaches.

resultsWe identified 16 frameworks: none addressed the entire continuum from test development to impact on diagnosis and patient outcomes in the intended population, nor the way in which tests may be used for triage purposes as part of a wider diagnostic strategy. Informed by these findings, we developed a new framework, the 'CanTest Framework', which proposes five iterative research phases forming a clear translational pathway from new test development to health system implementation and evaluation.

conclusionThis framework is suitable for testing in low prevalence populations, where tests are often applied for triage testing and incorporated into a wider diagnostic strategy. It has relevance for a wide range of stakeholders including patients, policymakers, purchasers, healthcare providers and industry.

Indexed as

Early Detection of CancerHumansModels, BiologicalNeoplasmsTriageCancerConceptual frameworkDiagnosisDiagnostic strategiesEarly detectionPrimary care

Identifiers

PMID31200676
PMCPMC6570853
OpenAlexW2952872426

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.