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Testing a Blood Test That Screens for Several Cancers at Once

Tests a blood test screening for multiple cancers in adults aged 45-75 without cancer.

Key facts

Who runs it
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Where
Bethesda, Brownstown, Chapel Hill, Charlottesville, Chesterfield, Cheyenne Wells, Cleveland, Clinton Township, Dearborn, Denver, Detroit, Durham, Fairfax, Fort Collins, Greeley, Grosse Pointe Farms, Honolulu, Kansas City, Lafayette, Livonia, Lone Tree, Loveland, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Norfolk, Novi, Oklahoma City, Pleasanton, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Richmond, Royal Oak, San Diego, South Hill, Springfield, St Louis, Sterling Heights, Tacoma, Troy, West Bloomfield, and Wyandotte, United StatesSee the 46 sites
Trial code
Registry title
The Vanguard Study: Testing a New Way to Screen for Cancer
Status
Recruiting
People taking part
24,000 people, planned
Started
18 Jun 2025
Expected to end
30 Jun 2029
Type of study
Interventional, 3 groupsOne group gets an existing treatment, for comparison.
Treatments tested
  • Biospecimen Collection
  • Device Usage
  • Electronic Health Record Review
  • Multi-Cancer Early Detection Test
  • Questionnaire Administration
Record updated
6 November 2026

Who can take part

AI summary

From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.

The trial is looking for adults aged 45-75 who have not had cancer recently. It tests blood tests that screen for several cancers at once.

Age
45-75 years old
Sex
All sexes can join.
Disease stage
No cancer in the last 5 years. In situ cancers and nonmelanoma skin cancer in the past are allowed.
Earlier treatment
No solid organ or stem-cell transplant at any time. No blood transfusion in the last 30 days.

Main reasons for not taking part

  • Solid tumor or blood cancer diagnosis within the last 5 years
  • Ongoing cancer diagnostic work-up
  • Taking part in another study of an investigational cancer screening test
  • Currently breastfeeding or pregnant, or planning to become pregnant in the next year
  • History of untreated prostate cancer

The registry criteria, word for word

Show all 9 criteriaShow less

Who can take part

  • Ages 45-75 years old
  • Agree to provide blood samples for possible MCD testing at enrollment and at 1 year following enrollment
  • Agree to allow collection of information from their medical records for study-related purposes
  • Understand and be able to complete informed consent and participant questionnaires in English, Spanish, or Arabic; Note: Eligibility for Spanish and Arabic languages are at the Hub's discretion

Who cannot take part

  • Solid malignant tumor or blood cancer diagnosis, with or without treatment, within the last 5 years; Note: Persons with a history of in situ cancers (e.g., ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast, cervical cancer in situ, atypical melanocytic hyperplasia or melanoma in situ) or nonmelanoma skin cancer are eligible. Persons with a history of prostate cancer that has not been treated are not eligible, regardless of when the diagnosis occurred
  • Ongoing cancer diagnostic work-up
  • Ongoing participation in another study of an investigational cancer screening test or technology not currently utilized in routine clinical practice
  • History of solid organ or hematopoietic transplantation at any time, or blood transfusion within the last 30 days
  • Currently breastfeeding or pregnant, or planning to become pregnant in the next year

Check if you might fit

Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.

  • Are you between 45 and 75 years old?

Where in United States

  • Walter Reed National Military Medical CenterBethesda, United StatesContact: Kristen Natale (principal investigator)Taking people
  • Henry Ford Cancer Institute-DownriverBrownstown, United StatesContact: Christine Neslund-Dudas (principal investigator)Taking people
  • Henry Ford Health Center - BrownstownBrownstown, United StatesContact: Christine Neslund-Dudas (principal investigator)Taking people
  • UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer CenterChapel Hill, United StatesContact: Daniel S. Reuland (principal investigator)Taking people
  • Sentara Martha Jefferson HospitalCharlottesville, United StatesContact: John M. Sayles (principal investigator)Taking people
  • Henry Ford Health Center - ChesterfieldChesterfield, United StatesContact: Christine Neslund-Dudas (principal investigator)Taking people
  • Keefe Memorial HospitalCheyenne Wells, United StatesContact: Linda S. Cook (principal investigator)Taking people
  • Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical CenterCleveland, United StatesContact: Charles J. Nock (principal investigator)Taking people
  • Henry Ford Macomb Hospital-Clinton TownshipClinton Township, United StatesContact: Christine Neslund-Dudas (principal investigator)Taking people
  • Henry Ford Medical Center-FairlaneDearborn, United StatesContact: Christine Neslund-Dudas (principal investigator)Taking people
  • Kaiser Permanente-FranklinDenver, United StatesContact: Debra P. Ritzwoller (principal investigator)Taking people
  • Henry Ford HospitalDetroit, United StatesContact: Christine Neslund-Dudas (principal investigator)Taking people
  • Henry Ford Medical Center - Detroit NorthwestDetroit, United StatesContact: Christine Neslund-Dudas (principal investigator)Taking people
  • Durham VA Medical CenterDurham, United StatesContact: Scott Shofer (principal investigator)Taking people
  • Inova Fair Oaks HospitalFairfax, United StatesContact: Rebecca D. Kaltman (principal investigator)Taking people
  • Inova Schar Cancer InstituteFairfax, United StatesContact: Rebecca D. Kaltman (principal investigator)Taking people
  • Cancer Care and Hematology-Fort CollinsFort Collins, United StatesContact: Linda S. Cook (principal investigator)Taking people
  • Poudre Valley HospitalFort Collins, United StatesContact: Linda S. Cook (principal investigator)Taking people
  • UCHealth Greeley HospitalGreeley, United StatesContact: Linda S. Cook (principal investigator)Taking people
  • Henry Ford Medical Center-CottageGrosse Pointe Farms, United StatesContact: Christine Neslund-Dudas (principal investigator)Taking people
  • Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Medical CenterHonolulu, United StatesContact: Stacey Honda (principal investigator)Taking people
  • Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas CityKansas City, United StatesContact: Timothy J. Pluard (principal investigator)Taking people
  • Kaiser Permanente-Rock CreekLafayette, United StatesContact: Debra P. Ritzwoller (principal investigator)Taking people
  • Henry Ford Medical Center - LivoniaLivonia, United StatesContact: Christine Neslund-Dudas (principal investigator)Taking people
  • Kaiser Permanente-Lone TreeLone Tree, United StatesContact: Debra P. Ritzwoller (principal investigator)Taking people
  • Medical Center of the RockiesLoveland, United StatesContact: Linda S. Cook (principal investigator)Taking people
  • Zablocki Veterans Administration Medical CenterMilwaukee, United StatesContact: Jeffrey C. Whittle (principal investigator)Taking people
  • Minneapolis VA Medical CenterMinneapolis, United StatesContact: Mark A. Klein (principal investigator)Taking people
  • Sentara Norfolk General HospitalNorfolk, United StatesContact: John M. Sayles (principal investigator)Taking people
  • Henry Ford Medical Center-ColumbusNovi, United StatesContact: Christine Neslund-Dudas (principal investigator)Taking people
  • University of Oklahoma Health Sciences CenterOklahoma City, United StatesContact: Mark Doescher (principal investigator)Taking people
  • Kaiser Permanente-Division of ResearchPleasanton, United StatesContact: Jeffrey Lee (principal investigator)Taking people
  • Henry Ford Medical Center - PlymouthPlymouth, United StatesContact: Christine Neslund-Dudas (principal investigator)Taking people
  • Naval Medical Center - PortsmouthPortsmouth, United StatesContact: John C. Mattingly (principal investigator)Taking people
  • VCU Massey Cancer Center at Stony PointRichmond, United StatesContact: Alexander H. Krist (principal investigator)Taking people
  • VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer CenterRichmond, United StatesContact: Alexander H. Krist (principal investigator)Taking people
  • Henry Ford Medical Center - Royal OakRoyal Oak, United StatesContact: Christine Neslund-Dudas (principal investigator)Taking people
  • Naval Medical Center -San DiegoSan Diego, United StatesContact: Brittany E. Powell (principal investigator)Taking people
  • VCU Community Memorial Health CenterSouth Hill, United StatesContact: Alexander H. Krist (principal investigator)Taking people
  • CoxHealth South HospitalSpringfield, United StatesContact: Aimee S. James (principal investigator)Taking people
  • Washington University School of MedicineSt Louis, United StatesContact: Aimee S. James (principal investigator)Taking people
  • Henry Ford Medical CenterSterling Heights, United StatesContact: Christine Neslund-Dudas (principal investigator)Taking people
  • Madigan Army Medical CenterTacoma, United StatesContact: Matthew Lavoie (principal investigator)Taking people
  • Henry Ford Medical Center - TroyTroy, United StatesContact: Christine Neslund-Dudas (principal investigator)Taking people
  • Henry Ford West Bloomfield HospitalWest Bloomfield, United StatesContact: Christine Neslund-Dudas (principal investigator)Taking people
  • Henry Ford Wyandotte HospitalWyandotte, United StatesContact: Christine Neslund-Dudas (principal investigator)Taking people

About the trial

What the trial wants to find out

The Vanguard Study is a feasibility study to explore several aspects of evaluating multi-cancer detection (MCD) tests in a future definitive randomized controlled trial. An MCD test measures markers in the blood in order to screen for multiple cancers simultaneously. There is a need to understand how MCDs may work as cancer screening tools. The goal of cancer screening is to reduce the burden of cancer by identifying cancers before they show symptoms or signs, when treatment is likely to be most effective. In this study, adults aged 45-75 without cancer will be randomly assigned to one of 3 groups: 2 separate MCD test groups or a control group. These two MCD tests will not be compared to each other but will be compared to cancers detected in the control group. This study will provide early information on how well MCD tests perform as cancer screening tools. It will also help researchers understand how patients and their doctors make decisions about their care when the MCD test result comes back as normal (negative) or abnormal (positive).

The 3 groups in the trial

  • Arm I (Shield MCD test)Treatment being tested

    Participants undergo blood collection for Shield MCD testing at enrollment and after one year on study. Participants at unblinded sites are provided results of tests and those with abnormal results follow up with their clinician for additional testing. Participants at blinded sites are provided abnormal results and will follow up with their clinician for additional testing.

    Treatment: Biospecimen Collection, Device Usage, Electronic Health Record Review, Multi-Cancer Early Detection Test, and Questionnaire Administration

  • Arm II (Avantect MCD test)Treatment being tested

    Participants undergo blood collection for Avantect MCD testing at enrollment and after one year on study. Participants at unblinded sites are provided results of tests and those with abnormal results follow up with their clinician for additional testing. Participants at blinded sites are provided abnormal results and will follow up with their clinician for additional testing.

    Treatment: Biospecimen Collection, Device Usage, Electronic Health Record Review, Multi-Cancer Early Detection Test, and Questionnaire Administration

  • Arm III (Control)Existing treatment, for comparison

    Participants undergo blood collection at enrollment and after one year on study.

    Treatment: Biospecimen Collection, Electronic Health Record Review, and Questionnaire Administration

Questions to ask the study team

  1. How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
  2. Are travel costs paid?
  3. Can I keep my own doctor?
  4. What happens if I want to stop?

Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations

Print a page for my doctor

Data and sources

Registry record
Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Official title
The Vanguard Study: Testing a New Way to Screen for Cancer
Plain-language title
Testing a Blood Test That Screens for Several Cancers at OnceGenerated from the registry record. The registry title is the official one.
AI summary
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Read by machine on 12 November 2026.
Fit questions
Built from NCT06995898, who can take part
Record updated
6 November 2026