WVU Medicine, WVU Cancer Institute partner with GRAIL to introduce new cancer screening test to West Virginians

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Each year, thousands of West Virginians are screened for five types of cancers, including lung, breast, cervical, colon, and prostate. Soon, West Virginians will have the opportunity to screen for more than 50 types of cancers through a simple blood draw. 

The WVU Cancer Institute and WVU Medicine are partnering with GRAIL, LLC, to provide West Virginians access to a new, groundbreaking multi-cancer early detection (MCED) blood test called Galleri^®. The test is being given as part of the larger clinical real-world evidence study known as REFLECTION.  

“The WVU Cancer Institute is excited to participate in the REFLECTION study,” Hannah Hazard-Jenkins, M.D., director of the WVU Cancer Institute and co-investigator on the study, said. “Our hope is that we will, over time, improve access to life-saving cancer screening beyond the five current cancers for which we screen.”

REFLECTION seeks to enroll approximately 35,000 healthy participants from a diverse array of clinical settings across North America. Of those, 1,000 will come from select WVU Medicine Primary Care locations around the state, with specific locations soon to be determined. Enrollment will begin at the WVU Medicine University Town Centre location in Morgantown.
 
“By participating in REFLECTION,” Dr. Hazard-Jenkins said, “we will provide real-world data as to the ability to use an MCED mechanism for the detection of up to 50 types of cancer to reduce the cancer mortality in our state and region.” 

The study’s goal is to assess the perception and performance of the Galleri® test among both providers and patients as part of routine medical care. 

“The Department of Family Medicine is excited by the opportunity to collaborate with the WVU Cancer Institute, WVU Medicine Internal Medicine, and GRAIL to bring the REFLECTION study to West Virginia,” Courtney Pilkerton, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor with the WVU School of Medicine and principal investigator on the study, said. “In primary care, part of our mission is to identify disease at the earliest possible stage to provide the patients we serve with the best opportunity for the least invasive curative treatments. The Galleri^® test is a blood screen for over 50 types of cancer that we hope will provide a simple addition to current available screenings for early cancer detection.” 

Of the more than 50 types of cancers for which the test screens, 45 currently lack any recommended screening tests. Additionally, the Galleri^® test can also help determine where in the body a cancer may be located, which can help guide diagnostic follow-up. Previous results indicate that the test has a low false positivity rate of less than 1 percent.

The test is being provided in addition to, and not in place of, current recommended cancer screenings. All participants should continue to follow current screening recommendations given by their provider. Participants must be 22 years or older, receive care through a participating WVU Medicine Primary Care location, and not undergoing active cancer treatment to participate in the study. 

“As West Virginians,” Dr. Pilkerton said, “the futures of our family and communities are important to us, and we value the opportunity to provide data that moves us closer to reducing the burden of cancer in those we care about.”
 
Patients of Morgantown-based WVU Medicine Primary Care locations can contact their providers to discuss a referral to the REFLECTION Study. To establish a primary care provider through WVU Medicine, call 855-WVU-CARE (855-988-2273).

WVU Medicine patients are encouraged to routinely check the MyWVUChart online portal for further recruitment messaging.

For more information on WVU Medicine, visit WVUMedicine.org. For more information on the WVU Cancer Institute, visit WVUMedicine.org/Cancer.