Related Resources
Transcript
Katherine Banwell:
Dr. Gray, you’re a researcher, so you know that research is moving very quickly.
Dr. Heidi Gray:
Mm-hmm.
Katherine Banwell:
For cancers like ovarian cancer, where early detection is very challenging, what new research or tools are showing promise?
Dr. Heidi Gray:
Yeah, so, I think that what we really are looking for, and where the research is going, is developing some of these blood testings – also called, multi-cancer detection panels – that are looking at trying to screen for aspects of kind of precancer, or proteins in the blood that might put a patient at risk, or herald a sign of either an early or a precancerous state. Again, it’s really in development still. So, there is a lot of interest. There’s a pretty large trial – I believe it’s called the Vanguard trial – that’s ongoing at the NCI, or National Cancer Institute, that is enrolling patients that are asymptomatic – so not known cancer – and looking at some of these multi-cancer detection assays. I believe it’s about seven or nine sites recruiting across the country. Fred Hutch isn’t a site right now, but I believe the VA might be a site soon.
But I would encourage folks, if they’re interested in joining and participating in one of these studies, to go on the website – the NCI – and I believe it’s called the Vanguard Study.
Katherine Banwell:
Okay, good advice. Thank you. What about artificial intelligence? How is it impacting testing and early diagnosis?
Dr. Heidi Gray:
Yeah. So, yeah. I mean, artificial intelligence, as we know, is really kind of revolutionizing a lot of different aspects of our lives. And in oncology, where it’s mostly being utilized, is in improving screening for things like mammograms or CT scans, as an aid to better detect cancer or precancer, or abnormalities. In the cervix cancer space, AI is also being developed to use to better screen Pap tests – to look for abnormalities or cellular abnormalities. So, those are kind of the main areas that it’s definitely having an impact.
And again, I think that there’s an important role in the future of AI being able to screen or give people a better assessment of their risk of cancer, or their genetic risk of cancer, based on some of their medical history or background.
Katherine Banwell:
How do researchers learn about gynecological cancer detection? Are there observational studies that people can join?
Dr. Heidi Gray:
Yeah, that’s a great question. In the past, there have been a number of observational studies. I don’t believe we have any open right now here at the Hutch. But if folks are interested, one of the best sites usually is – either you can go to the Fred Hutch cancer website and say, interested in a trial to see observational studies. Sometimes that involves screening blood work or doing some surveys and follow-up.
Many of our studies right now are focused on folks that have higher risk of cancer – so, higher risk of breast or ovarian cancer – and following them over time to see when earlier intervention may be helpful.