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The Vanguard Study: Testing a New Way to Screen for Cancer

Who can join

As published by the study on ClinicalTrials.gov. "Not stated" means the study hasn't said — ask the study team.

Age
45 Years to 75 Years
Sex
All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Accepted
Compensation
Not stated

Other requirements are listed under Eligibility below. Only the study team can confirm whether you can join.

What to expect

No one can promise a trial will help you personally — that is what the research is trying to find out.

What participation involves

  • Time periods mentioned: 10 years
  • Procedures mentioned: Questionnaires

Only what the study's summary and detailed description on ClinicalTrials.gov say. Time periods may describe the whole study or a part of it — ask the study team what applies to you.

Show the study's own words
  • "To assess the willingness of participants who reported military service to describe military-related environmental exposures by completing the Military Exposure Questionnaire."
  • "After completion of study intervention, participants are followed passively up to 10 years."
Compensation
Not stated
  • Study-related exams and procedures are typically provided at no cost. This is how many trials work in general — confirm the details for this study with the study team.
  • Participants are monitored closely by the research team throughout the study.
  • Some participants may receive access to an investigational treatment, which is still being studied.
  • Your participation helps researchers learn whether this approach could help future patients.

About this study

In plain language

The Vanguard Study is for adults ages 45–75 without cancer. It looks at whether blood tests that screen for several cancers at once could be studied in a larger trial. People are placed by chance into one of two blood test groups or a control group.

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).

Compensation is read from the study's own description and may be missing — always confirm with the study team.

Eligibility

Who can join

  • You are 45–75 years old.
  • You agree to give blood samples when you join and 1 year later for possible cancer screening tests.
  • You agree to let researchers collect information from your medical records for the study.
  • You can understand and complete the study consent form and surveys in English, Spanish, or Arabic. The study site decides whether Spanish or Arabic is available.

Who can't join

  • You were diagnosed with a cancerous solid tumor or blood cancer in the past 5 years, whether treated or not. This does not include in situ cancers (abnormal cells that have not spread from where they started) or skin cancers other than melanoma.
  • You have a history of prostate cancer that has not been treated, no matter when it was found.
  • You are currently having tests to find out if you have cancer.
  • You are in another study of a cancer screening test or tool that is not yet used in routine care.
  • You are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant in the next year.
  • You have ever had an organ transplant or a transplant of blood-forming cells.
  • You received donated blood through a transfusion in the past 30 days.

Simplified for readability. The official criteria below are what the study team uses.

Official eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * 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 Exclusion Criteria: * 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 * Currently breastfeeding or pregnant, or planning to become pregnant in the next year * History of solid organ or hematopoietic transplantation at any time, or blood transfusion within the last 30 days

Study sites (45)

CA

CO

HI

MD

  • Walter Reed National Military Medical Center · Bethesda, MD 20889-5600Site Public Contact · Study contact · 240-265-9823Kristen Natale · Principal investigatorMore trials in Bethesda

MI

MN

MO

NC

OH

OK

VA

WA

WI

  • Zablocki Veterans Administration Medical Center · Milwaukee, WI 53295Site Public Contact · Study contact · 888-469-6614Jeffrey C. Whittle · Principal investigatorMore trials in Milwaukee