How soon a disease shows up in a check up depends on the technology that is used for early detection. Recent declines in cancer mortality is attributed to an early detection technology that includes advances in imaging and an increased awareness of early symptoms among masses.

Research for early detection of cancer is being carried out on several fronts. One direction is the study of genetic mutations that ultimately lead to cancer. The attempt is to identify exhaustive list of mutations that lead to cancer. Biomedical engineering contributes by developing technologies that facilitate comparison of DNA in tumor cells with DNA in healthy cells. Identification of potentially threatening mutations will lead to patient specific treatment at a stage when disease is yet to manifest.

Study of mechanisms that control cell division is another direction of research. Uncontrolled cell division is result of gene mutation. Better understanding of cell division mechanism shall equip clinicians to combat effects of genetic mutation more knowledgeably.

Another direction of research aims at developing targeted molecules. This involves identification of agents that act selectively on those proteins of cancer cells that have gone astray. Molecules such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors, imatinib and gefitinib, and monoclonal antibodies belong to this category. Finding agents that selectively bind to cell surface receptors or extracellular matrix constituting the tumor environment is another direction of research. Peptide attached radionuclides are examples of this class.