Guardant Partners with James Van Der Beek on Colorectal Cancer Screening Campaign

Author(s):

Mike Hollan

Key Takeaways

Guardant Health collaborates with James Van Der Beek to promote early colorectal cancer screenings, highlighting the Shield blood test's convenience and effectiveness.
The Shield blood test offers a more accessible and pleasant screening option, encouraging more individuals to undergo early cancer detection.
The Vanguard Study evaluates the Shield test's potential in detecting multiple cancers early, aiming to improve patient outcomes and reduce cancer mortality.
The campaign and study underscore the critical role of early cancer detection in saving lives and expanding screening accessibility.

The actor was diagnosed with the disease at 46-years-old.

James Van Der Beek
Courtesy Gaurdant

When it comes to oncology, early screening is one of the most effective ways to save lives. It may go without saying, but treatment has better chances of success when the disease is caught early. Despite this, many people wait too long to start getting screened and/or let too much time pass between screenings.

Key Takeaways

James Van Der Beek and Guardant are partnering for a campaign focused on colorectal cancer.
Early screening greatly improves the chances of successful treatment.
Van Der Beek was diagnosed with colorectal cancer at age 46.

Why is early screening important?

Guardant Health announced a partnership with actor James Van Der Beek to promote early screenings for colorectal cancer (CRC).¹ Van Der Beek was inspired to join the campaign based on his own personal experience fighting cancer.

“I was 46 years old, in great physical shape, and had no idea I was living with stage 3 colorectal cancer,” he said in a press release. “It’s the second most deadly cancer, but the most curable when caught in its early stages, making screening crucial,” said Van Der Beek. “I was relieved to learn about Guardant’s Shield blood test because it’s a more pleasant and convenient way to get screened, especially for those who’ve been hesitating. I’ve learned a lot on my cancer journey, but I wouldn’t wish this on anyone. Simply put, getting screened can save your life. If you’re 45 or older, make sure you talk to your doctor about screening guidelines and your options.”

Guardant is also using the campaign to promote its early detection blood test The Shield.

In the same press release, Guardant Health’s co-CEO AmirAli Talasaz added, “We are grateful to James for the work he has done to raise awareness with his personal story that shows the importance of screening and early detection. Our goal is to ensure that everyone who should be screened for colorectal cancer gets screened––and the Shield blood test is a major step forward in making screening more convenient and accessible across the country. We are committed to saving lives through early detection and––with James’ help––we hope more Americans are encouraged to take this critical step.”

New Jersey internal medicine physician Dr. Angel Lazo also said in the announcement release, “In my primary care practice, I’m on the frontlines of colorectal cancer and screenings are one of the best tools we have, helping us to catch and treat colorectal cancer at early stages. In my practice, it can be difficult for patients to screen with traditional methods. Adding the option of Shield has made it much more convenient and expanded screening to more people, giving peace of mind to them––and to me as their doctor.”

Guardant also recently announced that patient enrollment had begun on a new clinical study on the Shield to test its effectiveness with 10 different cancer types.²

In a press release issued at the time, Guardant Health global chief medical officer Craig Eagle, MD, said, “New screening technology like the Shield MCD test has the potential to detect multiple cancers earlier through a simple blood draw. The earlier we can screen and diagnose cancers, the more options we can bring to patients and ultimately the more lives we can save. The Vanguard Study is a critical step in research to evaluate the role of this breakthrough technology in helping reduce cancer deaths.”

“Initiation of the Vanguard Study is an exciting milestone, as we look to evaluate a new way to screen for cancer,” added Scott Ramsey, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Hutchinson Institute for Cancer Outcomes Research at Fred Hutch Cancer Center and principal investigator for the Vanguard Study. “The study will help us learn more about multi-cancer detection tests and assess whether they can help people from all backgrounds find cancer early, when it may be easier to treat.”

Sources

Guardant Health and James Van Der Beek Team Up to Raise Awareness About New Advances in Colorectal Cancer Screening for Adults 45+. Guardant. July 30, 2025. https://investors.guardanthealth.com/press-releases/press-releases/2025/Guardant-Health-and-James-Van-Der-Beek-Team-Up-to-Raise-Awareness-About-New-Advances-in-Colorectal-Cancer-Screening-for-Adults-45/default.aspx
First Patient Enrolled in National Cancer Institute’s Vanguard Study Evaluating Guardant Health’s Shield Multi-Cancer Detection Test. Guardant. July 15, 2025. Accessed July 30, 2025. https://investors.guardanthealth.com/press-releases/press-releases/2025/First-Patient-Enrolled-in-National-Cancer-Institutes-Vanguard-Study-Evaluating-Guardant-Healths-Shield-Multi-Cancer-Detection-Test/default.aspx

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