OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center is halfway to its enrollment goal for a national study testing whether a blood draw can catch 10 types of cancer before symptoms appear.

The center has enrolled about 1,000 people in the Vanguard Study and aims to reach 2,000 to 2,400, according to the University of Oklahoma. The study is recruiting adults ages 45 to 75 across Oklahoma. The nearest testing site to Norman is in Oklahoma City.

Stephenson Cancer Center is one of eight hubs nationwide running the study, which is funded by a grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The national enrollment target is up to 24,000 participants.

What the study tests

The Vanguard Study evaluates multi-cancer detection blood tests that look for biological substances released into the bloodstream by cancer cells. The tests screen for bladder, breast, colorectal, esophageal, stomach, liver, lung, ovarian, pancreatic and prostate cancers.

Several of those cancers lack standard screening.

If a test detects a signal, it indicates the likely location of the cancer. The participant would then undergo additional testing such as an MRI, CT scan or biopsy. The blood tests are not meant to replace existing screenings like mammograms or colonoscopies, Doescher said.

Why it matters in Oklahoma

Oklahoma has the fourth-highest cancer mortality rate among all states, 14% above the national average, according to Stephenson Cancer Center's community outreach data. The state records more than 24,000 new cancer cases and roughly 8,490 cancer deaths each year.

The Vanguard Study is a pilot leading to a larger trial that will provide more robust evidence on whether the tests can reduce cancer deaths. The center joined the NCI's Cancer Screening Research Network in 2024 through a $3.2 million grant that created the Oklahoma Tribal, Rural, Urban Cancer Screening Trial (OK TRUST) Access Hub. About 80% of Oklahomans live within 50 miles of an affiliate site.

Oklahoma testing sites are in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Eufaula and Stigler.

How to sign up

Participants must be 45 to 75 years old, cancer-free for the past five years and able to provide two blood samples and complete surveys. To enroll, call (405) 271-2967, email [email protected] or visit ouhealth.com/oktrust.