PITTSBURGH (Aug. 11, 2026) — Researchers at Allegheny Health Network (AHN) Cancer Center contributed to a new international study led by City of Hope, a cancer research and treatment organization, showing that a blood-based test may help detect both colorectal cancer and the precancerous growths that can lead to it.

The study, published in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology, found the test detected approximately 90 to 92 percent of colorectal cancers and 81 percent of advanced adenomas, or high-risk polyps.

Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer death in the United States, with more than 55,000 deaths expected this year. Rates are increasing among younger adults, even as screening has reduced cases in older populations.

At the same time, screening rates remain below national targets, and about one in three eligible adults are not up to date on recommended screening.

Colonoscopy remains the most effective screening tool, but some patients delay or avoid it due to preparation or discomfort.

“This is an important step toward making colorectal cancer screening more accessible,” said Ali H. Zaidi, MD, medical director of aerodigestive research at the AHN Cancer Center, professor of surgery and medicine at Drexel University College of Medicine, and a co-author of the study. “A blood test could provide a more convenient option for patients and help identify those who need follow-up care.”

David L. Bartlett, MD, director of the AHN Cancer Center and president of the AHN Research Institute, was also a co-author of the study.

The test works by analyzing small molecules in the blood, called microRNAs, and using advanced analytics to identify biological signals associated with colorectal cancer or precancerous changes.

Unlike many existing blood-based tests, this approach is designed to detect not only cancer but also advanced adenomas, allowing for earlier intervention.

“For years, most blood-based cancer screening tests have focused on finding cancer after it has already developed. Our goal was to move detection further upstream by identifying advanced adenomas and early-stage colorectal cancers, when intervention can have the greatest impact. If we can reliably detect these lesions through a simple blood test, we have an opportunity not only to find cancer earlier, but also to help prevent it altogether,” said Ajay Goel, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Molecular Diagnostics and Experimental Therapeutics at City of Hope and senior author of the study.

AHN Cancer Center served as a key participating site in the international study, which enrolled more than 1,600 participants undergoing colorectal cancer screening.

“One of the most exciting aspects of this research is its potential to identify patients at risk before cancer develops,” said David L. Bartlett, MD, director of the AHN Cancer Center, president of the AHN Research Institute and co-author of the study. “By finding advanced precancerous polyps through a simple blood test, we may be able to reach more people with screening, intervene earlier and ultimately reduce the burden of colorectal cancer.”

While this blood test is still being studied and is not yet a replacement for colonoscopy, experts say it could eventually help more people take that first step toward screening.

“Too many patients are diagnosed with colorectal cancer after the disease has already progressed,” Dr. Zaidi said. “Our goal is to change that by making screening easier, more accessible and more effective.”

Experts emphasize that while the blood test remains under investigation, patients should continue to follow recommended screening guidelines and discuss the most appropriate screening option with their physician.

Pittsburgh, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is announcing lane restrictions on Heights Road (Route 3038) in Hopewell Township, Allegheny County will begin Wednesday, August 12 weather permitting.

Single-lane alternating traffic restrictions controlled by flaggers will occur on Heights Road between Hill Street and Buchannan Avenue from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily, as needed, through mid-September as crews from D&M Contracting conduct gas main repair work for Peoples Natural Gas.

FILE – Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks during a news conference on the Autism report by the CDC at the Hubert Humphrey Building Auditorium in Washington, April 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. health officials want food manufacturers to provide more information about new additives and ingredients. Under a proposal announced Monday, food companies would have to notify the Food and Drug Administration before introducing new colors, flavorings, sweeteners and other ingredients found in processed food. The change would reverse a decades-old policy allowing companies to self-certify that new ingredients are safe. That policy has long been criticized by health advocates, who blame it for allowing thousands of additives into the U.S. food supply. Reforming the system has been a key pledge for Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his “Make America Healthy Again” movement.

Pittsburgh, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is announcing a shoulder restriction on eastbound (inbound) I-376 (Parkway West) in the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, will occur Thursday, August 13 weather permitting.

A shoulder restriction will occur on eastbound I-376 between the on-ramp from Route 19 (Banksville Road) and the Fort Pitt Tunnel from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM Thursday. Crews from the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy will conduct landscaping operations.

Gas prices are six cents lower in Western Pennsylvania this week at $4.191 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.

Nationwide Trends:
The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline has fallen nine cents over the past week to $4.00. Crude oil prices are currently in the $80 per barrel range as uncertainty remains about when the Strait of Hormuz will resume normal operations. As of today, more than half of states are paying below $4 per gallon on average. Gas prices typically start going down this time of year, as many schools and universities begin fall semesters, and fewer people are taking road trips compared to earlier in the summer.

According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand decreased slightly last week from 9.04 million barrels per day to 9.03 million. Total domestic gasoline supply decreased from 211.3 million barrels to 209.7 million. Gasoline production also decreased, averaging 9.6 million barrels per day.

At the close of Wednesday’s formal trading session, West Texas Intermediate fell 55 cents to settle at $75.22 a barrel. The EIA reports that crude oil inventories increased by 2.5 million barrels from the previous week. At 407 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are about 6% below the five-year average for this time of year.

The national average per kilowatt hour of electricity at a public EV charging station stayed the same this past week at 42 cents.

Western Pennsylvania Averages

The average price of unleaded self-serve gasoline today in various areas:      

$4.150      Altoona
$4.291      Beaver
$4.213      Bradford
$3.899      Brookville
$4.298      Butler
$3.970      Clarion
$4.104      DuBois
$4.219      Erie
$4.235      Greensburg
$4.271      Indiana
$4.220      Jeannette
$4.219      Kittanning
$4.244      Latrobe
$4.232      Meadville
$4.316      Mercer
$4.192      New Castle
$4.271      New Kensington
$4.231      Oil City
$4.247      Pittsburgh
$3.848      Sharon
$4.249      Uniontown
$4.270      Warren
$4.198      Washington
Quick Gas and Electricity Stats

Gas

The nation’s top 10 most expensive gasoline markets are California ($5.60), Hawaii ($5.45), Washington ($5.14), Alaska ($4.78), Nevada ($4.76), Oregon ($4.66), Idaho ($4.35), Arizona ($4.32), Utah ($4.30), and Illinois ($4.24).

The nation’s top 10 least expensive gasoline markets are Indiana ($3.48), South Carolina ($3.52), Texas ($3.54), Tennessee ($3.55), Oklahoma ($3.56), Kentucky ($3.57), Louisiana ($3.57), Mississippi ($3.59), Arkansas ($3.62), and Alabama ($3.62).

Electric

The nation’s top 10 most expensive states for public charging per kilowatt hour are West Virginia (52 cents), Hawaii (51 cents), Alaska (50 cents), California (47 cents), New Hampshire (47 cents), Louisiana (46 cents), New Jersey (45 cents), Illinois (45 cents), Arkansas (45 cents), and North Dakota (44 cents).

The nation’s top 10 least expensive states for public charging per kilowatt hour are Kansas (31 cents), Missouri (32 cents), Iowa (33 cents), Utah (34 cents), Maryland (34 cents), South Dakota (35 cents), Nebraska (35 cents), Vermont (36 cents), New Mexico (37 cents), and Minnesota (38 cents).