The Colorectal Cancer Alliance has launched CLEAR for CRC, a patient-centered initiative designed to close persistent gaps in early biomarker testing for newly diagnosed colorectal cancer—particularly for patients with advanced or metastatic disease.
Biomarker testing helps identify a tumor’s molecular profile, guiding treatment selection, eligibility for targeted therapies, and access to clinical trials. Despite its clinical importance, testing remains inconsistently ordered, often delayed until after first-line therapy, or missed entirely—especially in rural and underserved communities.
CLEAR for CRC addresses these gaps through three core strategies:
- Early patient awareness: Educating patients about biomarker testing before treatment decisions are made, so they can advocate for testing at diagnosis.
- Patient navigation support: Trained navigators help patients understand results, manage insurance and financial barriers, and ensure timely conversations with care teams.
- Provider education: Practical, CRC-specific tools for community and rural clinicians to standardize testing discussions and ordering.
The initiative is led by Dr. Erin Siegel, principal investigator of the CLEAR for CRC Biomarker Study, and is part of the Alliance’s broader Project Cure CRC effort.