Confronting Singapore’s Screening Paradox
Singapore has one of the most advanced healthcare systems in Asia, yet its cancer screening participation rates remain alarmingly low. According to the 2024 National Population Health Survey, breast cancer screening participation stands at just 35.2%, while cervical and colorectal cancer screening rates hover at 44.9% each—far below the international benchmark of 70% or higher. Meanwhile, cancer incidence rates continue to rise steadily.
This paradox—world-class treatment capabilities paired with suboptimal early detection—is precisely what the Research Institute for Cancer Prevention, Screening and Early Detection (RISE) was established to address. Jointly led by the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), RISE announced in May 2026 the launch of two flagship studies designed to generate robust, Asian-specific evidence for cancer prevention and early detection.
The NCCS Multi-Cancer Early Detection Trial
The first study, led by NCCS, will evaluate multi-cancer early detection (MCED) tests in individuals at elevated risk due to pre-malignant conditions or hereditary cancer syndromes. MCED tests represent an emerging frontier in cancer screening, capable of detecting multiple cancer types from a single blood sample. However, global evidence on their impact on population health outcomes remains limited. The NCCS team aims to comprehensively assess whether these tests can identify early-stage cancers in high-risk populations and whether they can be feasibly integrated into Singapore’s national screening framework.
NTU’s Focus on Metabolic Dysfunction-Linked Cancers
The second study, led by NTU’s Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, targets a different high-risk group: individuals with metabolic risk factors such as diabetes, excess body fat, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure. These conditions are known to increase the risk of colorectal, lung, and breast cancers. Known as the Cancer Risk Assessments and Early detection (CRAnE) study, it aims to test multi-cancer risk assessment methods in primary care settings, tailoring screening and prevention advice to individual risk profiles.
A Vision for Asian-Specific Screening
As Professor Ravindran Kanesvaran, Co-Director of RISE, noted, the next major leap in cancer control will come not only from better treatments but from improving the ability to prevent and detect cancers earlier. “RISE was established to generate robust evidence that Singapore can use to shape and design screening and prevention strategies that are effective, accessible and tailored to the needs of our Asian population”. The studies are scheduled to commence in the second half of 2026 and will run for five years.
