Summary: Cancer Check Labs has been chosen as the exclusive provider of early cancer detection tests for Ways2Well, a regenerative medicine clinic, making their circulating tumor cell (CTC) detection tests available nationwide.

Takeaways:

  1. Exclusive Partnership: Cancer Check Labs’ tests will now be exclusively offered to Ways2Well’s 52,000 patients, replacing previous ctDNA-based screening methods.
  2. Advanced Detection Technology: Cancer Check Labs uses a unique approach to detect whole circulating tumor cells (CTCs), offering a more detailed and accurate analysis compared to ctDNA-based tests.
  3. Focus on Early Detection: This partnership aligns with Ways2Well’s commitment to early detection and prevention, enhancing the clinic’s ability to offer innovative and precise cancer screening options.

Cancer Check Labs, a provider in early cancer detection, has been selected as the exclusive provider of early cancer detection tests through Ways2Well, a regenerative and functional medicine clinic that provides telehealth appointments and personalized care plans for patients. Cancer Check tests will now be available to all of Ways2Well’s 52,000 patients across the country, the companies say.

Early Cancer Diagnosis

According to the CDC, approximately four in 10 people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. Today, only five types of cancers—breast, lung, colorectal, prostate and cervical—come with recommended screening tests. Yet there are more than 200 known types and subtypes of cancer, with cancer surpassing heart disease as the number one cause of death in high-income developed populations. The urgency for early cancer detection is increasing as researchers learn more about the dramatic benefits of early cancer treatment, however, many cancer screening tests are either too invasive, non-specific, or prone to error.

In recent years, companies like GRAIL have developed early-detection blood tests that utilize circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) detection technology to determine the likelihood of the presence of cancer. While a step in the right direction, ctDNA methods only provide a partial glimpse of the whole picture, essentially relying on scraps of DNA information and signals from which to extrapolate answers, often creating erroneous results, false positives, and unnecessary subsequent treatment for patients.

About Cancer Check Labs Cancer Testing

In contrast, Cancer Check Labs has developed an entirely new way to screen for the presence of cancerous circulating tumor cells (CTCs)—rather than ctDNA—from more than 200 types of solid tumors with just a 40 ml blood draw. The cellular tissue from the blood sample is then processed and subsequently reviewed by a board-certified pathologist to determine whether or not CTCs are present. CTCs provide a profound level of insight into the whole, intact tumor cell, revealing structural and morphological characteristics which can enhance accuracy. 

The output of the analysis is a board-certified pathology report, the same output you would receive from a standard tissue biopsy. This level of detail and alignment with standard procedures is the reason why Ways2Well moved on from GRAIL to exclusively provide cancer screening with Cancer Check Labs, the company says.

Further reading: New Evidence Casts Doubt on Galleri Test for Early Cancer Detection

“Our primary focus is on early detection and preventative care so that our patients can avoid complications from illness down the road,” says Danese Rexroad MSN, APRN, FNP-C, Chief Clinical Officer at Ways2Well. “A major part of that focus is cancer prevention, which can only happen if detected in its earliest stages. As a company that utilizes blood analysis to determine the underlying causes and risks for disease, we were encouraged by some of the ctDNA early cancer detection blood tests gaining traction in the market, but there were still concerns about their accuracy and limitations. That’s why it was so crucial for us to switch to a company like Cancer Check Labs who has changed the game with their ability to detect whole CTCs and can enable us to analyze actual cellular tissue.”

Sumit Rai, CEO of Cancer Check Labs, added: “We are thrilled to be partnering with such a renowned clinic that is dedicated to providing the most innovative and personalized care solutions to its patients. Access to Cancer Check Labs’ game-changing early cancer screening can benefit both Ways2Well patients and the broader cancer research community by spreading awareness around the power of CTC detection technology over ctDNA and traditional screening methods.”