TMIST Enrollment Surpasses 100,000

The Tomosynthesis Mammographic Imaging Screening Trial (TMIST) has now enrolled more than 100,000 women in the United States and abroad. A fast-growing National Cancer Institute (NCI)-sponsored trial, TMIST has expanded to 130 participating clinical sites in the US, Argentina, Canada, Peru, Italy, South Korea, and Thailand. The study chair for this trial is Etta D. Pisano, MD (American College of Radiology). Read the full press release.

Giants of Cancer Care Inducts Joe Sparano

Joseph A. Sparano, MD (Mount Sinai Health System/The Tisch Cancer Institute), was recently inducted into the 12th Annual Giants of Cancer Care recognition program for his achievements in breast cancer research and clinical practice. Giants of Cancer Care, presented by OncLive^®, aims to honor and celebrate the accomplishments of leading researchers and educators whose discoveries have propelled the field and set the groundwork for future advancements.

A member of ECOG-ACRIN since 1991, Dr. Sparano is currently a deputy chair on the Executive Committee, representing the ECOG-ACRIN and AIDS Malignancy Consortium Joint Strategy, co-chair and co-founder of the Mentoring Program, and lead investigator for the groundbreaking TAILORx breast cancer clinical trial, for which he continues to make research discoveries using the TAILORx data. Dr. Sparano’s research focuses on the clinical application of biomarkers in breast cancer and developmental therapeutic approaches for breast cancer, lymphoma, and HIV-associated cancers. Read the OncLive^® press release.

Completed Trials Signal Commitment to Representation

Two ECOG-ACRIN studies presented at the recent 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting denote the tangible results of the Group’s commitment to equitable inclusion for patients in clinical trials. With emphasis on two underrepresented populations, the studies–EAZ171 for Black patients with breast cancer, and the GIANT trial for geriatric patients with pancreatic cancer–are both firsts of their kind. EAZ171, presented by Tarah J. Ballinger, MD (Indiana University), sought to lessen taxane-induced peripheral neuropathy in Black patients with early breast cancer. It is the first NCI-sponsored trial to focus specifically on enrolling an underserved population to assess drug-induced toxicity (rather than drug efficacy) where there are known disparate outcomes.

The GIANT trial (EA2186), presented by Efrat E. Dotan, MD (Fox Chase Cancer Center), is the first randomized prospective clinical trial to focus specifically on exploring treatment approaches for vulnerable older adults with treatment-naïve metastatic pancreatic cancer, and represents a new approach to assessing geriatric patients for clinical trial participation, regardless of cancer type. Both trials offer promise to improve treatment options and provide blueprints for developing future trials aimed specifically at marginalized communities. Read more.

Vilcek Foundation Appoints Jedd Wolchok to Board of Directors

Jedd D. Wolchok, MD (Weill Cornell Medicine), was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Vilcek Foundation, a nonprofit organization that raises awareness of immigrant contributions in the United States and fosters appreciation for the arts and sciences. Since 2000, the foundation has awarded over $7 million in prizes to foreign-born individuals and has supported organizations with over $6 million in grants.

Dr. Wolchok is currently chair of the ECOG-ACRIN Melanoma Committee. He is the Meyer Director of the Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center at Weill Cornell Medicine, where he leads an expansive multidisciplinary research and clinical enterprise.

ECOG-ACRIN Awards 2024 Paul Carbone, MD Fellowship

Tarek H. Mouhieddine, MD (Mount Sinai Health System/The Tisch Cancer Institute), is the recipient of the 2024 Paul Carbone, MD Fellowship Award, a research grant that aims to develop and promote excellence in clinical trials leading to improvements in cancer care. Each year, ECOG-ACRIN names one outstanding senior oncology or hematology research fellow at a member institution to receive this award and associated professional recognition. His research project is titled Targeting PD1/Tim3 to overcome immunogenic resistance to bispecific antibody in multiple myeloma. Read the press release.

New Advanced Practice Provider Clinical Trials Research Manual Now Available

Created by representatives from across the cooperative research groups in the NCI National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN), the Advanced Practice Provider Clinical Trials Research Manual is intended for advanced practice providers (APPs) who are new to clinical research or who wish to refresh their knowledge. The manual provides education and guidance for oncology APPs and their centers. Topics covered include the types, phases, and endpoints of clinical trials; research team roles and responsibilities; the protocol development review process; regulatory affairs and data management; enrollment and informed consent processes; auditing and monitoring; the NCI Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program’s APP prescribing policy; and tips for discussing trials with potential participants.

View or download the manual on the secured members’ section of the ECOG-ACRIN website (look for User Groups). Instructions for those who need credentials to the members' section are posted on the Members: Connect With Us page of ecog-acrin.org.

CompassHER2 pCR Trial to Evaluate HER2DX^® Score

With the CompassHER2 pCR trial (EA1181), ECOG-ACRIN is at the forefront of assessing an optimized therapy regimen with reduced chemotherapy across nearly 2200 patients with HER2-positive breast cancer. The protocol has been amended to allow for the HER2DX^® pCR score and HER2DX^® risk score to be analyzed in baseline pre-treatment samples from trial participants, linking these scores directly to patient outcomes. Read the Reliant Genomics press release.

Spring Group Meeting Session Recordings

Session recordings from the recent Group Meeting continue to be available to ECOG-ACRIN members on the Attendee Hub Website for a limited time. If you previously registered for the meeting, simply log in to the Attendee Hub with the information you provided during registration, navigate to ‘Schedule,’ and then select ‘On Demand’ from the dropdown list. If you did not previously register, you must first register and then visit the Attendee Hub.

The Attendee Hub website will expire 90 days following the meeting (late July).

In the coming weeks, we will post select session resources and recordings from the spring meeting in the members’ section of the ECOG-ACRIN website. These materials will be available to anyone with member login credentials.

Research Results

Researchers with ECOG-ACRIN presented a wide range of study results at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago and online May 31-June 4. Read the feature article in this issue.