Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Centers for Early Detection and Interception

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    Dana-Farber’s Centers for Early Detection and Interception is a new multidisciplinary clinical and research program for individuals who are at increased risk of developing cancer.

    Talk with one of our experts to evaluate if the Centers for Early Detection and Interception is the right next step for you or your patient's care.

    When we can detect cancer early, we have a greater chance of treating and curing that cancer.

    That’s why we created the Centers for Early Detection and Interception. Specifically for individuals who have an increased risk of developing cancer, this integrated clinical and research program aims to detect cancer sooner and stop pre-cancerous conditions from progressing.

    Learn more about our vision and goals to transform cancer care.

    What does increased risk of cancer mean?

    Several factors impact someone’s likelihood of developing cancer in their lifetime. These risk factors include:

    • Genetic conditions, such as Lynch syndrome or BRCA genes
    • Precursor conditions, such as smoldering myeloma, clonal hematopoiesis, or Barrett’s esophagus. These conditions are all early phases of diseases that may develop into cancers.
    • Positive result from a multi-cancer early detection test, like the Galleri test from GRAIL
    • Family history of cancer
    • Previous cancer

    If any of these risk factors apply to you — or your patient — contact us. Call 617-762-2334 to talk with one of our experts and evaluate if the Centers for Early Detection and Interception is the right next step for your care.

    Multidisciplinary Care, Centered Around You 

    We understand our patients may have one or a combination of risk factors for cancer. Our specialized care teams can help you understand and reduce your individual risk of progressing to cancer. Starting with an initial diagnostic evaluation, you'll receive a personalized plan for monitoring and interventions. 

    Depending on your risk factors, you may be seen by a combination of experts from our Centers for Early Detection and Interception specialty programs. These clinical and research centers focus on precursor and hereditary conditions that can be early indicators of blood cancers and solid tumors.

    Specialty Centers and Clinics

    Blood Cancers

    At the Center for Early Detection and Interception of Blood Cancers, we help patients manage precursor conditions of hematologic malignancies that can lead to blood cancers such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.

    Myeloid Precursors

    • Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP)
    • Clonal cytopenia of undetermined significance (CCUS)

    Plasma Cell Precursors

    • Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)
    • Smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM)
    • Immunoglobulin M monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (IgM MGUS)
    • Smoldering Waldenström macroglobulinemia (SWM)

    Lymphoid Precursors

    • Monoclonal B cell lymphocytosis (MBL)
    • Lymphoid clonal hematopoiesis (Lymphoid-CH)
    • Low-grade lymphomas such as marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) and follicular lymphomas

    Solid Tumors

    At the Center for Early Detection and Interception of Solid Tumors, we help patients manage precursor conditions and genetic predispositions for solid tumor cancers, including gastrointestinal tumors, gynecologic tumors, and head and neck tumors. We also offer screening and surveillance for gynecologic cancers.

    Gastrointestinal Precursors

    • Barrett’s esophagus
    • Gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM)
    • Gastric polyps
    • Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs)
    • Colorectal polyps
    • Gastric neuroendocrine tumors (gNETs)
    • Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs)

    Gynecologic Precursors

    • Family history of ovarian cancer​
    • Lynch syndrome
    • BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations​
    • Peutz Jeghers syndrome
    • Cowden syndrome
    • Other hereditary gynecologic cancer syndromes not listed above (PALB2, BRIP1, etc.)

    Oral Medicine 

    • Oral leukoplakia

    Multi-Cancer Early Detection Clinic

    Using a single blood sample, multi-cancer early detection (MCED) tests screen for numerous types of cancers, including breast, cervical, colorectal, and prostate cancers. Our clinic provides comprehensive diagnostic evaluations for patients with a positive MCED test.

    Genetic Testing, Hereditary Conditions and Syndromes

    Lynch Syndrome Center

    Lynch syndrome is a common and often under-diagnosed inherited condition that increases one's risk for a variety of cancers, including colon, rectal, uterine, ovarian, urinary tract, and other malignancies. The Lynch Syndrome Center provides comprehensive care for patients with Lynch syndrome including prevention trials of vaccines, studies of risk-reducing strategies and studies of novel early detection markers.

    Li-Fraumeni Syndrome and TP53 Center

    The Li-Fraumeni Syndrome and TP53 Center specializes in caring for people with diagnoses of LFS and with TP53+, or those who have a family history of Li-Fraumeni syndrome.

    Center for BRCA and Related Genes

    Mutations in BRCA1, BRCA2, and BRCA-related genes confer increased risk of certain cancers when inherited. These mutations can also be acquired by the cancers themselves. The Mellen and Eisenson Family Center for BRCA and Related Genes provides comprehensive care for patients with inherited and acquired mutations, including clinical therapeutic trials, trials of risk-reducing strategies, and studies of novel early detection markers.