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Cancer research

Fred Hutch Leads New Vanguard Study for Cancer Screening Research Network

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center is leading the Vanguard Study, a national study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness and use of multi-cancer detection blood tests. This new type of blood test screens for several different cancers and has the potential to diagnose cancer earlier, when it may be easier to treat. The study, funded by the National Cancer Institute, is the first of its kind and will help researchers understand how these tools are best used. The study will recruit adults aged 45-75 with no cancer diagnosis in the past five years and will evaluate the Avantect(R) MCD Test by ClearNote Health and the ShieldTM MCD Test by Guardant Health.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Vanguard Study is a national study conducted by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center to evaluate the effectiveness and use of multi-cancer detection blood tests.
  • The study aims to understand whether multi-cancer detection tests can help people aged 45-75 find cancer early when it may be easier to treat.
  • The study will recruit adults aged 45-75 with no cancer diagnosis in the past five years and will evaluate the Avantect(R) MCD Test by ClearNote Health and the ShieldTM MCD Test by Guardant Health.
  • The study is funded by the National Cancer Institute and is part of the Cancer Screening Research Network (CSRN), a nationwide network aimed at improving cancer screening.
  • The Vanguard Study is a pivotal first step in evaluating the feasibility of conducting large-scale randomized clinical trials to assess the effectiveness of MCD tests and other emerging cancer screening technologies.
  • The study's findings will help shape the rigorous design and implementation of future studies aimed at advancing early cancer detection, including a large national trial to determine if MCD tests decrease cancer burden and mortality.
  • The study will have a control group, a group that receives the Avantect(R) MCD Test and a group that receives the ShieldTM MCD Test.
  • The research team at Fred Hutch has expertise leading large-scale clinical trial networks and complex studies, including the Women's Health Initiative, HIV Vaccine Trials Network, COVID-19 Prevention Trials Network as well as the Statistical and Data Management Center for SWOG.
  • The NCI-sponsored Early Detection Research Network has been led by Fred Hutch for 25 years, further demonstrating the center's expertise in cancer detection and prevention research.

Statistics:

  • The study will evaluate multi-cancer detection tests that screen for ten different cancers: bladder, breast, colorectal, esophageal, stomach, liver, lung, ovarian, pancreatic, and prostate.
  • The study will recruit adults aged 45-75 with no cancer diagnosis in the past five years.
  • Participants will give two blood samples, one at entry and another one year later, and complete regular cancer screening as recommended by clinicians.
  • The study is part of the Cancer Screening Research Network (CSRN), a nationwide network aimed at improving cancer screening.
  • The study has three arms: a control group, a group that receives the Avantect(R) MCD Test and a group that receives the ShieldTM MCD Test.
  • The study is funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health.

Sources:

  • Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center. (2025, July 15). Vanguard Study Launch. Retrieved from

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