DCP supports early detection and screening discovery, validation, and development to reduce cancer incidence and mortality, including:
- Morphology such as cytology for cervical cancer,
- Markers/biomarkers of precancer and cancer such as human papillomavirus (HPV) for cervical cancer, prostate specific antigen (PSA) for prostate, and fecal blood for colorectal cancer; and
- Imaging such as mammography for breast cancer and low-dose CT for lung cancer.
- Screening for cervical, breast, lung, and colon cancers have proven effective for preventing and controlling cancer and are recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).
DCP-supported research has contributed to the evidence supporting their use and to limiting PSA testing. USPSTF recommends screening for hepatitis B and C, the leading liver cancer risk factors. Improved screening opportunities exist for these cancers by increasing their effectiveness and reducing their harms.
DCP is committed to identifying cancers that have no proven screening methods, such as the highly lethal pancreatic cancer. This includes supporting the discovery and validation of biomarkers for early cancer detection, and the development and evaluation of multi-cancer detection tests.
Foundational Detection Research Programs
Consortium for Imaging and Biomarkers (CIB) seeks to improve cancer screening, early detection of aggressive cancer, assessment of cancer risk, and cancer diagnosis by integrating imaging strategies with biomarkers into complementary approaches.
Early Detection Research Network (EDRN) is a collaborative program that maintains comprehensive infrastructure and resources critical to the discovery, development and validation of biomarkers for cancer risk and early detection.
Liquid Biopsy Consortium is an Academic/Industrial Partnership program designed to advance and validate Liquid Biopsy technologies specifically targeted for early stage cancer detection.
Pancreatic Cancer Detection Consortium (PCDC) develops and tests new molecular and imaging biomarkers to detect early stage pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and its precursor lesions. These biomarkers would be used to identify individuals who are at high risk of developing PDAC and are candidates for early intervention.
Pre-Cancer Atlas (PCA) is one of the three scientific components of the Human Tumor Atlas Network (HTAN). HTAN is a collaborative research initiative for constructing 3-dimensional (3-D) and dynamic atlases of the cellular, morphological, molecular, and spatial features of human cancers and their surrounding microenvironments as they progress from precancerous lesions to advanced disease.
Translational and Basic Science Research in Early lesions (TBEL) Program is a collaborative research network that aims (1) to further understand the biological and pathophysiological mechanisms driving or restraining precancers and early cancers and (2) to facilitate biology-backed precision prevention approaches.
Translational Liver Cancer (TLC) Consortium advances translational research focused on early detection of liver cancer. The consortium goals are to conduct studies to improve the surveillance of liver cancer in high-risk populations, increase the fraction of liver cancer detected at an early stage, and better stratify patients at risk of developing liver cancer.
Clinical Cancer Detection and Screening Research
Cancer Screening Research Network (CSRN) conducts trials and studies to systematically evaluate promising and emerging technologies for the purpose of cancer screening. This network is running the Vanguard Study of multicancer detection assays.
HIV/Cervical Cancer Prevention CASCADE Clinical Trials Network seeks to conduct pragmatic clinical trials evaluating the effectiveness of clinically proven interventions to optimize the cervical cancer screening, management, and precancer treatment cascade for women living human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.
Lung Cancer Screening Image Library is being created for use by Artificial Intelligence researchers to improve lung cancer screening.
NCI Cervical Cancer Last Mile Initiative is a public-private partnership to validate self-collection as a comparable alternative to provider-collected sampling for human papillomavirus (HPV) testing in cervical cancer screening. Includes the Self-collection for HPV Testing to Improve Cervical Cancer Prevention (SHIP)Trial
NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) is a clinical trials network of cancer professionals bringing research to populations across the country in the communities where most patients live.
U.S.-Latin American-Carribbean HIV/HPV Cancer Prevention Clinical Trials Network (ULACNet) has partnership centers that focus on improving prevention of human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancers in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected individuals.
Training Program in Early Detection and Screening
Cancer Prevention Fellowship Program (CPFP) provides advanced training to fellows to give them strong foundation in the field of cancer prevention and control.