What is it prescribed for?
The Guardant Health Shield test is a blood test that screens for colorectal cancer (CRC) in people who are 45 and older and at average risk of the disease.
The test looks for DNA fragments from tumor cells and precancerous growths in blood samples collected with a Guardant Blood Collection Kit.
What is the name of the drug and what does it do?
The Shield test for colon cancer is a blood test designed to detect colon cancer, offering a more convenient alternative to traditional screening methods like colonoscopy.
A colonoscopy is a medical test where a doctor uses a thin, flexible tube with a tiny camera to look inside the large intestine for any problems, like growths that could turn into cancer.
Colon cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, is a type of cancer that begins in the colon or rectum.
It usually starts as an abnormal tissue growth called a polyp, which can be noncancerous or precancerous. Over time, these polyps can develop into cancer.
Colon cancer is one of the most common types of cancer, with symptoms that may include changes in bowel habits, blood in the feces, abdominal discomfort, and unexplained weight loss.
Early detection through screening tests is crucial for successful treatment and improved outcomes.
How does it work?
The Guardant Health’s Shield test is a special kind of blood test that looks for signs of colon cancer.
This test can find cancer cells or changes in your genes that are linked to colon cancer.
The test uses a special kit to take a small sample of your blood and checks for any mutations that are linked to colon cancer in the DNA that is floating around in the blood.
If the test finds any mutations, it means that there might be cancer or growths in your large intestine or rectum that have a higher chance of turning into cancer compared to other growths.
These growths are called “advanced” because they have a higher chance of turning into cancer compared to other growths.
If the test finds anything unusual, it means that you might have cancer or advanced growths in your colon or rectum.
The test is not meant to replace other tests that doctors use to diagnose or keep an eye on colon cancer, but it can help find cancer early.
This is important because finding cancer early can lead to more people getting treated and fewer people dying from colon cancer that could have been prevented.
Even though some people worry about its accuracy compared to other tests, the Shield test can still help find cancer early.
This means that more people might get screened and fewer people might die from colon cancer that could have been prevented.
If the test finds anything unusual, your doctor might want you to get a colonoscopy.
A colonoscopy is a medical procedure where a doctor uses a thin, flexible tube with a tiny camera to look inside the large intestine for any problems, like growths that could turn into cancer.
What did the research discover?
The research has found that the Shield test, a new blood test for colon cancer, is designed to help more people get screened for colon cancer, especially those who are at average risk, but it might not be as good at finding pre-cancerous growths.
Colon cancer is a big health issue in the U.S., with over 150,000 new cases each year and more than 50,000 people dying from it annually.
Finding colon cancer early is important because treatment works better when it’s caught early, but many people don’t get screened because colonoscopies can be uncomfortable and preparing for them can be challenging.
The Shield test, if approved, would be the second blood test for colon cancer in the U.S. and has shown promising results in detecting 83% of colon cancers.
However, there are concerns about its accuracy in finding pre-cancerous growths, with only 13% of advanced adenomas being detected.
Despite its limitations, the Shield test could still be a helpful addition to the tests that doctors already use, and people might need to take the test every one to three years.
Even though the Shield test might not replace colonoscopies, it could help more people get screened for colon cancer and potentially lower the number of preventable deaths from the disease.
What are some of the side effects?
The Shield’s blood-screening test has no side effects.
What are the dosage recommendations and how is it prescribed?
The Shield test for colon cancer may need to be repeated every one to three years, but this can vary based on factors like personal medical history, family history of colon cancer, and overall health status.
Healthcare providers can provide personalized guidance on screening schedules based on personal risk factors and preferences.
Source:
- Guardant Health Blog Team. FDA Advisory Committee Strongly Recommends Approval For Guardant Health Blood Test For Colorectal Cancer [Internet]. Guardant. 2024 [cited 2024 Jul 15]. Available from: https://guardanthealth.com/2024/06/11/fda-advisory-committee-strongly-recommends-guardant-health-blood-test-for-colorectal-cancer/#:~:text=The%20Shield%20test%20is%20a,aged%2045%20years%20or%20older.
- Prepared for the May 23, 2024 Meeting of the Molecular and Clinical Genetics Panel of the Medical Devices Advisory Committee Pxxxxxx Shield Guardant Health, Inc. [Internet]. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 2024 [cited 2024 Jul 15]. Available from: https://www.fda.gov/media/178792/download
