ECOG-ACRIN Co-Chairs Share a Perspective on Indirect Costs

On February 7, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced a new policy that would limit indirect costs to 15 percent for NIH-funded institutions. In a guest editorial in The Cancer Letter, Peter J. O’Dwyer, MD, and Mitchell D. Schnall, MD, PhD, outline the purpose of indirect costs and illustrate how a low indirect cost rate will negatively affect cancer research. They reflect on the implications for scientific progress, innovation, and—most importantly—patient outcomes. Read the editorial (subscription required).

TMIST Breast Cancer Screening Trial Achieves Enrollment Goal

The study chair for this trial is Etta D. Pisano, MD (American College of Radiology).

The large-scale Tomosynthesis Mammographic Imaging Screening Trial (TMIST) has reached its enrollment goal, recruiting more than 108,000 women from across the world. TMIST aims to identify women for whom digital breast tomosynthesis may be more effective than two-dimensional digital mammography in reducing the risk of advanced breast cancer. The study will now proceed with the completion of regularly scheduled mammograms and follow-up on all participants through 2027. Key in this follow-up is the collection of biospecimens and data that will help researchers learn how to personalize breast cancer screening for women. Read the press release.

Please note, although the trial has closed to accrual, educational materials will remain available on the ECOG-ACRIN website through the follow-up period.

ECOG-ACRIN at the ASCO 2025 GI Cancers Symposium

Two ECOG-ACRIN abstracts with relevant information for clinical practice were presented at the recent ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium. Efrat E. Dotan, MD (Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health) presented the latest finding from the GIANT (EA2186) trial for vulnerable older patients with metastatic pancreas cancer. Primary results from the trial were presented at ASCO in 2024. Here, researchers evaluated the effect of baseline geriatric and quality of life assessments on treatment outcomes (Abstract 676). “There is a strong correlation based on nutritional status, daily living function, depression, and every single one of the quality of life measures. This is the first prospective study to evaluate these measures strongly. We hope that supportive care and management of these vulnerabilities will help improve outcomes of these patients and help us select who can derive benefit from chemotherapy,” she said. Read the full interview with Targeted Oncology or watch a video interview with OncLive.

Wan Ying Tan, MBBS (University of Connecticut/Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center) presented a new approach for reporting adverse events (AEs) in clinical trials that captures both the safety profile and patient experience. As background, the current Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) classifies AEs in clinical trials but traditionally limits the analysis to a single occurrence per patient and grade 3-4 AEs, overlooking frequent and lower grade AEs. Here, the researchers compared the burden of grade 3-4 AEs versus grades 1-4 AEs in patients who participated in the E2211 trial. They conclude that accounting for the burden across grades 1-4s offers a different and more patient-centered assessment than the current approach (Abstract 658).  

Efrat Dotan Joins Penn Medicine

Efrat Dotan, MD, is now with Penn Medicine as executive medical director of the Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Institute at Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health. She is also an Innovation Faculty member at the Penn Center for Cancer Care Innovation.

Dr. Dotan’s work focuses on developing novel treatment approaches for older adults with gastrointestinal cancers using various anti-cancer therapies. She is the founding chair of ECOG-ACRIN’s Geriatric Oncology Working Group, lead investigator for GIANT (EA2186), the group’s first ever treatment trial exclusively for older adults with cancer, and the Geriatric Oncology Representative on the Executive Committee. Dr. Dotan is chair of the Older Adult Oncology Guidelines Panel for the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, and co-chair of the National Cancer Institute Pancreatic Cancer Task Force. Prior to joining Penn, Dr. Dotan served as chief of the Division of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology and professor in the Department of Hematology/Oncology at Temple Health’s Fox Chase Cancer Center. Read the announcement on LinkedIn.

Suzanne Cole, Nathan Pennell Elected by ASCO

Suzanne Cole, MD (UT Southwestern Medical Center), and Nathan A. Pennell, MD, PhD (Cleveland Clinic), both ECOG-ACRIN investigators, were recently elected to leadership roles at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). Both terms begin in June 2025.

Dr. Cole was elected to a Designated Community Oncologist seat on ASCO’s Nominating Committee, which is responsible for developing a slate of candidates for elected ASCO positions. She will serve a three-year term. Dr. Cole is a member of the ECOG-ACRIN Genitourinary Cancer and Real-World Data Committees, and principal investigator of the PrE1702 Real-World Data Registry Study in Lung Cancer.

Dr. Pennell was elected to an Undesignated Member seat on ASCO’s Board of Directors. He will serve a four-year term. Dr. Pennell is a member of the ECOG-ACRIN Thoracic Cancer Committee and principal investigator of EA5181, testing durvalumab as concurrent and consolidative therapy compared to consolidative therapy alone for unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer.

Save the Date for the Spring 2025 Group Meeting

Mark your calendar to attend the Spring 2025 Group Meeting, Tuesday, May 13–Thursday, May 15 (note the schedule shift away from Wednesday–Friday), to be held in person at the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street in Tampa, Florida. Sessions will likely begin early in the morning on Tuesday and end mid-afternoon on Thursday (subject to change). Additional details will be available when registration opens in early March. Look for an email to all ECOG-ACRIN members when registration is available. As usual, the meeting is open to researchers and staff affiliated with member institutions, ECOG-ACRIN patient advocates, industry representatives, and other invited individuals. Learn more.