A new blood test may detect HPV-linked throat cancer up to 10 years before diagnosis

Blood test identifies HPV-linked throat cancer up to 10 years prior to diagnosis. – Photo credit Mass General Brigham

CANCER DIGEST – Oct. 19, 2025 – Researchers at Mass General Brigham say they have developed a liquid biopsy test called HPV-DeepSeek, which can identify HPV-linked throat cancers up to 10 years before symptoms begin. 

In a small comparison study using 56 blood samples taken from 28 people who later developed head and neck cancer and 28 people who did not, the research team found that the test detected HPV-related cancer in 22 of 28 people who were later diagnosed cancer, which translates to a sensitivity of 79 percent, meaning accuracy in detecting cancer. In the control samples, all 28 samples taken from the non-cancer group tested negative for cancer, indicating a 100 percent specificity.

In addition, the analysis showed that the test was even more accurate the closer the blood sample was collected to the diagnosis, with the earliest positive result for samples collected 7.8 years prior to diagnosis. 

Using machine learning, the researchers tested samples of 306 people who were later diagnosed with throat cancer or not, and found that the test increased sensitivity to 96 percent and detected cancer as much as 10.3 years prior to diagnosis, The study results appear in the Sept. 10, 2025 Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

"Our study shows for the first time that we can accurately detect HPV-associated cancers in asymptomatic individuals many years before they are ever diagnosed with cancer," lead study author Daniel L. Faden, MD, FACS, said in a press release. "By the time patients enter our clinics with symptoms from the cancer, they require treatments that cause significant, life-long side effects. We hope tools like HPV-DeepSeek will allow us to catch these cancers at their very earliest stages, which ultimately can improve patient outcomes and quality of life."

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common virus that has more than 150 subtypes causing health problems ranging from genital warts to cancer.  It is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the world with an estimated 80 percent of people being infected at some point in their lives. There are 14 HPV types that have been linked to cervical cancer and cancers of the anus, penis, vagina, throat and mouth.

HPV-DeepSeek works by identifying pieces of the HPV genome and nine other factors in a blood sample. Other blood tests for HPV-related cancers only evaluate one or two pieces of the HPV DNA. HPV-DeepSeek uses the entire HPV genome.

The researchers are following up on this small study with a larger number of samples to further validate the test. In addition, they are looking at how well the test might work for other types of HPV-related cancers, as well as making improvements to the test.

The researchers hope to make the test available to clinicians as soon as possible following more validation testing.

Sources: Mass General Brigham press release and the Journal of the National Cancer Institute