Sixth Month of Record Accrual for TMIST as New Sites Join

The TMIST breast cancer screening trial posted another month of strong accrual in March 2021, marking six straight months of record enrollments. Total study enrollment stands at 44,507 participants at 111 sites in the US and worldwide (as of April 21). The number of active sites (with at least one participant) also continues to grow. In the first quarter of 2021, three new sites opened the study: Medical University of South Carolina, Mount Sinai Hospital, and Carle Physician Group-Mattoon/Charleston.

If your site is interested in offering this trial to your constituents, email TMIST@acr.org to discuss the study requirements, reimbursement/payment structure, and how to start the application process.

Read more about the trial in the First Quarter 2021 TMIST Newsletter.

EA2185 Pancreatic Cyst Surveillance Study in the News

The EA2185 study, led by Dr. David Weinberg (Fox Chase Cancer Center), is evaluating the clinical effectiveness and resource utilization of two common approaches to noncancerous pancreatic cyst surveillance: the Fukuoka guidelines and the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) recommendations. The two approaches, one more intensive than the other, have important differences in cost, convenience, and potentially, outcomes for cyst patients. See below for recent coverage of the trial and learn more about its significance.

• Study Tests Guidelines for Monitoring Pancreatic Cysts (OncLive)
• Pancreatic Cysts Are Monitored in New Trial Aimed at Reducing Cancer Risk Through Targeted Screening (Cancer Prevention Science: A research blog from the NCI Division of Cancer Prevention)

AACR Honors Edith Mitchell

Dr. Edith Mitchell (Jefferson University/Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center), co-chair of ECOG-ACRIN's Health Equity Committee, is the recipient of the 2021 AACR-Minorities in Cancer Research Jane Cooke Wright Lectureship. The lectureship recognizes an outstanding scientist who has made meritorious contributions to the field of cancer research and who has, through leadership or by example, furthered the advancement of minority investigators in cancer research. Dr. Mitchell will be honored during the virtual American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2021.

NCTN Group Co-Chairs to Speak at Advocacy Seminar

On June 15 from 1:00-2:30 pm CDT, NCTN group chairs, including Dr. Peter O'Dwyer (University of Pennsylvania), will offer their perspectives in an online seminar, Advocates' Role in Precision Medicine panel. The Research Advocacy Network is hosting this event as part of its 2021 Precision Medicine in Oncology seminar series.

ECOG-ACRIN is co-sponsoring this seminar series, which is open to NCTN Advocates and NCI Steering Committee and Task Force Advocates only. The next event is Biomarkers—A Clinician’s Perspective with Dan Hayes, MD (University of Michigan) on May 20 from 1:00-2:30 pm CDT. Register for both events.

EAF151 Glioblastoma Trial Reaches Enrollment Milestone

EAF151, led by Dr. Jerrold Boxerman (Rhode Island Hospital), recently enrolled its 100th patient. With an accrual goal of 165, the study is now over 60% enrolled. EAF151 pairs a new imaging approach with standard treatment (bevacizumab). The trial is evaluating the use of two contrast-enhanced MRI exams, one before treatment begins and the other after two weeks. There is evidence from smaller trials that early use of contrast MRI to measure changes in the amount of blood in the tumor is a better and faster way than the current method to identify which patients are benefiting from bevacizumab. This earlier measure could also help those for whom the therapy is not working, allowing them to move on to try other treatments. Currently, physicians measure response after three months of treatment.

Learn more about EAF151 on the ECOG-ACRIN website.