Blood Biomarker Discovered for Lynch Syndrome Cancer Risk

New test can help identify those with higher susceptibility to cancer development.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 7:18am

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An ethereal, ghostly X-ray image of a human blood sample, revealing the intricate cellular structures and immune system components that could hold the key to early cancer detection for those with Lynch Syndrome.A new blood-based biomarker could help clinicians better identify and monitor individuals with Lynch Syndrome, a hereditary condition that predisposes people to certain cancers.Houston Today

Researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have discovered a new blood-based biomarker that can help identify and characterize asymptomatic people with Lynch Syndrome (LS) who are more susceptible to developing cancer based on early immune detection signatures, allowing clinicians to stratify patients based on their personal risk level.

Why it matters

Lynch Syndrome is a hereditary condition that predisposes people to certain cancers, especially colorectal and endometrial, at a younger age than the general population. Having a way to non-invasively track an individual's cancer risk and immune activity could help clinicians provide more personalized prevention and monitoring strategies for this high-risk patient population.

The details

The study, published in Nature Communications, was led by Eduardo Vilar-Sanchez, M.D., Ph.D., chair ad interim of Clinical Cancer Prevention. The researchers sequenced T cell receptors (TCR), which help T cells identify and attack threatening neoantigens on cancer cells. These microsatellite mutations, which result in insertions or deletions of DNA sequences, also create tumor-specific neoantigens that trigger an immune response.

  • The study was published on April 6, 2026.

The players

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

A comprehensive cancer center located in Houston, Texas that conducts advanced cancer research and provides patient care.

Eduardo Vilar-Sanchez, M.D., Ph.D.

The chair ad interim of Clinical Cancer Prevention at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and the lead researcher on the study.

Lynch Syndrome

A hereditary condition involving mutations in the germline of DNA mismatch repair genes, which predisposes people to certain cancers, especially colorectal and endometrial, at a younger age than the general population.

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What they’re saying

“Providing a potential non-invasive blood test to track cancer risk and immune activity in patients with Lynch Syndrome is a tremendous step forward for this patient population.”

— Eduardo Vilar-Sanchez, Chair ad interim of Clinical Cancer Prevention

The takeaway

This new blood-based biomarker could help clinicians better identify and monitor individuals with Lynch Syndrome, allowing for more personalized prevention and early intervention strategies to improve outcomes for this high-risk patient population.