Spotlight on the News

NIH's NCI Has Launched CSRN to Help Identify Cancers Earlier

NIH's National Cancer Institute (NCI) https://www.cancer.gov has launched the Cancer Screening Research Network (CSRN) to be able to identify cancers earlier. Eight groups have received funding from NCI to carry out the initial activities of the network.

According to Dr. Rathmell, M.D., Ph.D. Director of NCI, "Emerging technologies such as multi-cancer detection tests could transform cancer screening and help to extend the lives of many more people. We need to be sure that these technologies work and understand how to use them.

In 2024, the network will launch the pilot study called the "Vanguard Study on Multi-Cancer Detection" to address the feasibility of using Multi-Cancer Detection (MCD) tests in future randomized controlled trials.

MCDs are blood tests that can screen for several types of cancers. The pilot study will enroll up to 24,000 people to help inform the design of a much larger randomized controlled trial. The larger trial will evaluate whether the benefits of using MCD tests to screen for cancer outweigh the harm, and whether they can detect cancer early in a way that will reduce deaths.

In the studies, the network aims to reach diverse populations that are receiving routine care in a variety of healthcare settings. Study sites are geographically diverse and include underserved populations. Study investigators will come from a variety of disciplines that are actively engaged in cancer screening.

Initial funding will provide resources for study coordination, communication activities, statistics, data management, and the enrollment of participants into clinical trials and studies.

The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle will serve as the network's coordinating and communications center along with their statistics and data management center.

The funded sites include:

• Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences
• Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, and Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine
• OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences
• University of Colorado Cancer Center in Aurora
• University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center at Chapel Hill
• Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Inova, and Sentara Health
• Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
• The Department of Defense Uniformed Services University and the Department of Veterans Affairs will be able to participate as sites with funding provided by their respective agencies.