Cleveland Clinic has launched its Early Gastrointestinal Cancer Program aimed at improving cancer screening, patient education and research across multiple gastrointestinal cancers.
The program is designed to increase screening rates and identify cancers earlier, when five-year survival rates can exceed 90%. The initiative focuses on colorectal, pancreatic, liver and esophageal cancers, among others, according to a June 2 news release.
The effort takes a broader approach than traditional cancer-specific initiatives by addressing the full spectrum of GI cancers.
Research efforts already underway include a National Institutes of Health-funded study examining how AI can help identify risk factors and detect gastrointestinal cancers earlier. Other projects are focused on improving screening adherence, expanding stool-based screening programs and developing biomarker-based approaches to early detection.
The health system is also leveraging its locations in Ohio, Florida, London and Abu Dhabi to support research and screening initiatives across diverse patient populations.
Cleveland Clinic plans to expand community outreach, strengthen provider education and recruit a program director as it continues to build the initiative. Roughly one-third of eligible U.S. adults remain unscreened for colorectal cancer despite the availability of screening tools, according to the release.
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