Dr. Treyzon now offers cancer detection testing via the GRAIL Galleri blood test.
GRAIL is a healthcare company whose mission is to detect cancer early, when it can be cured. GRAIL develops new technologies for early cancer detection. The company is using the power of next-generation sequencing, population-scale clinical studies, and state-of-the-art computer science and data science to overcome one of medicine’s greatest challenges with Galleri™, GRAIL’s multi-cancer early detection blood test.
What is the research behind the Galleri test?
In an observational study, Galleri demonstrated the ability to detect more than 50 types of cancer through a simple blood draw. Over 45 of the types of cancer that are able to be detected through the Galleri test lack recommended screening tests today in the U.S., with a low false positive rate of less than 1%. Cancer is expected to become the leading cause of death in the United States this year, in large part because the majority of cancers are found too late when outcomes are poor. When cancer is detected, Galleri can determine the cancer signal origin with high accuracy. The Galleri test is recommended for use in adults with an elevated risk for cancer, such as those aged 50 or older.
The blood test is supported by what is believed to be the largest clinical study program in genomic medicine, with over 140 clinical study sites, including the Mayo Clinic, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Sutter Health, OHSU, Intermountain Healthcare, and U.S. Oncology Research.
How does the Galleri test detect cancer?
Please watch this video link from the company for a detailed overview of how the test detects cancer signals in the body.
https://www.galleri.com/the-galleri-test
What exactly is a “liquid biopsy”?
A test done on a sample of blood to look for cancer cells from a tumor that are circulating in the blood or for pieces of DNA from tumor cells that are in the blood. A liquid biopsy may be used to help find cancer at an early stage. It may also be used to help plan treatment or to find out how well treatment is working or if cancer has come back. Being able to take multiple samples of blood over time may also help doctors understand what kind of molecular changes are taking place in a tumor.
How long does it take to get results?
Test results should be available to Dr. Treyzon within 14 business days from the time the sample arrives at GRAIL’s laboratory.
Interpretation of Results:
Results should be interpreted by Dr. Treyzon in the context of medical history, clinical signs, and symptoms. A test result of “Cancer Signal Not Detected” does not rule out cancer. A test result of “Cancer Signal Detected” requires confirmatory diagnostic evaluation by medically established procedures (e.g., imaging) to confirm cancer.
If cancer is not confirmed with further testing, it could mean that cancer is not present or testing was insufficient to detect cancer, including due to the cancer being located in a different part of the body. False positive (a cancer signal detected when cancer is not present) and false negative (a cancer signal not detected when cancer is present) test results do occur.
We used the company’s site to write this blog. Further information about the company and Galleri test can be found by visiting the company’s website:
https://www.galleri.com/the-galleri-test/request-the-test
https://www.galleri.com/the-galleri-test/cost
Author Leo Treyzon MD