Back to search results

The Sentinel Study: Early Cancer Detection in Military Veterans

This study, called The Sentinel Study, is looking at a blood test called GRAIL Galleri. This test is designed to find many types of cancer early. We want to see how well it works in military veterans who have served for at least four years and are 45 years or older. You would need to have received care at a VA facility recently and be willing to travel to Boston for further testing if the blood test suggests cancer. The study will measure how accurately the test finds cancer (positive predictive value), how accurately it shows no cancer when none is present (negative predictive value), and its overall accuracy (specificity rate) after 12 months. The study is currently unclear on its recruitment status but plans to enroll about 1,500 people.

Study design
This is an interventional study, meaning participants will receive a specific intervention (the GRAIL Galleri blood test). It plans to include about 1,500 participants.
What's involved
Participation involves screening for eligibility, blood draws, filling out questionnaires, and clinic visits. Your involvement in the study is expected to last up to one year.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
The study measures outcomes at 12 months, which suggests follow-up for at least that long.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT06523868

Evaluation of Multi-Cancer Early Detection Testing in a High-Risk Military Population: The Sentinel Study

Recruiting
NAAges 45+InterventionalScreening
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
~1,500 participants
Updated 2026-02-27 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:GRAIL Galleri

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Positive predictive value at 12 Months
Measured over At 12 months
+4 more outcomes measured

Conditions

Cancer Diagnosis

Explore related trials

Malignant Neoplasm

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
Massachusetts1

Study leadership

  • Elizabeth ODonnell, MD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Who to contact

Elizabeth ODonnell, MD
[email protected]
857-215-2361
Email the study team

Opens a ready-to-send draft in your own email app — review before sending.

Do you actually qualify for this trial?

Add a private profile and we'll compare every criterion below against your situation — and tell you which ones are met, uncertain, or excluding.

Check eligibility for this trial ~2 min · HIPAA-protected · delete anytime
Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Active-duty or National Guard/Reserves military service for four or more years
Age ≥ 45
Received care at a VA facility within past 5 years
Able to sign informed consent
Willingness to travel to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA, for diagnostic testing if screening test indicates possible malignancy

Exclusion

Individuals diagnosed with invasive malignancy within 3 years of enrollment (non- melanoma skin cancer is acceptable)
Individuals with evidence of symptomatic or active cancer requiring therapeutic intervention at the time of participation (hormone therapy for breast/prostate cancer is acceptable)
Individuals in the process of being evaluated for a clinical suspicion of cancer

What this trial measures

  • Positive predictive value at 12 MonthsAt 12 months

    Positive predictive value is defined as the proportion of participants with cancer diagnosis out of all participants with "signal detected" on GRAIL Galleri MCED test results.

  • Negative predictive value at 12 MonthsAt 12 months

    Negative predictive value is defined as the proportion of participants with no cancer diagnosis out of all participants with "signal not detected" on GRAIL Galleri MCED test results.

  • Specificity Rate at 12 MonthsAt 12 months

    Specificity is defined as the proportion of participants with "signal not detected" results out of all participants with no cancer diagnosis on GRAIL Galleri MCED test results.

  • Yield Rate at 12 MonthsAt 12 months

    Yield rate is defined as the proportion of participants with "signal detected" out of all participants tested on GRAIL Galleri MCED test.

  • Number of Participants Needed to Screen at 12 monthsAt 12 months

    Number Needed to Screen (NNS) is defined as the number of participants screened to detect a diagnosis of invasive cancer on the GRAIL Galleri MCED test.