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Could one blood test detect multiple cancers earlier? UNC researchers hope to find out
WRAL • • health
Key Points:
- Marla Mills-Wilson, a former clinical trials professional, was diagnosed with stage two pancreatic cancer at 54 and became a participant in a UNC clinical trial that led to successful treatment and surgery.
- UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center is recruiting 2,000 North Carolina adults aged 45-75 for the Vanguard Study, a national trial evaluating blood-based multi-cancer detection assays (MCDs) aimed at early detection of multiple cancers simultaneously.
- The Vanguard Study tests novel blood assays that could potentially screen for cancers without current routine screening methods, like pancreatic and ovarian cancers, but researchers caution these tests are not yet ready for widespread clinical use.
- UNC researchers emphasize the importance of diverse participant enrollment to ensure study results are applicable across different populations, with some study activities available remotely to enhance accessibility.
- Mills-Wilson advocates for clinical trial participation, highlighting early detection's potential to improve outcomes and stressing the need for community involvement to advance cancer research and care.
