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The components of the cell are shown in bright green, blue and red. Cancer cells, like these dividing breast cancer cells, can shed DNA fragments into the bloodstream. Tests to spot these fragments could aid early cancer detection efforts. Wei Qian/Univ of Pittsburgh, NCI Share this: * Share via email (Opens in new window) Email * Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X * Click to print (Opens in new window) Print By Meghan Rosen June 20, 2025 at 1:00 pm Cancer's genetic fingerprints may lurk in people's blood long before they find out about the disease. Science News Science News was founded in 1921 as an independent, nonprofit source of accurate information on the latest news of science, medicine and technology. Today, our mission remains the same: to empower people to evaluate the news and the world around them. 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