Imagine a test that finds early breast cancer without needing a biopsy. A recent review looked at seven studies testing AI-based blood markers called circulating miRNA signatures. These markers are tiny pieces of genetic material floating in your blood that might signal cancer before it spreads. The combined results showed the test performed very well on paper, with a score of 0.905 for overall accuracy. It found the disease in about 81% of cases where it was present and correctly said the disease was absent in 87% of cases where it was not there.
But there is a catch. The studies included in this review were not all perfect. Many were retrospective, meaning they looked back at old data rather than following patients forward. The way these tests were built and checked varied greatly between studies. This mix of different methods makes it hard to be sure the test works exactly the same way in every hospital or clinic.
Safety was not a major concern because these are just blood tests, but the biggest issue is trust. Until more standardized studies prove these tools work consistently in real-world settings, they should only be seen as helpers alongside standard imaging scans. Right now, they are not ready to replace the usual ways doctors check for cancer.