This post is contributed by Amarinthia Curtis, MD, radiation oncologist, site investigator for the Tomosynthesis Mammographic Imaging Screening Trial (TMIST) at the Spartanburg Medical Center in South Carolina.
As I recently told The Cancer Letter, TMIST will not only help tailor future breast cancer screening, but the demographic and socioeconomic information on those who enroll—and choose not enroll — will help us know characteristics of those who take part in clinical trials and what barriers may prevent others from doing so.
This information can help expand representation in future trials and make study results more generalizable across populations.
TMIST is the first large randomized controlled trial (RCT) that seeks to identify women in which digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) may outpace two-dimensional (2D) digital mammography at reducing advanced breast cancer development. TMIST will also create the world’s largest breast cancer biorepository.
TMIST is not just a technology trial, and many women are excited by that. In 2019, the number of women taking part in TMIST has doubled, and the number of TMIST sites is up 50 percent. We have even opened our first site outside of North America as international providers take notice.
However, even as the number of women and sites participating in TMIST moves higher, we have room for many more of both. If your facility has both DBT and 2D digital mammography, you can do this. Check out this new video for more details on TMIST participation.
My site accrues about 40 women per month (2 to 3 per day, 4 days a week) to TMIST. Our lead coordinator recently outlined to the TMIST E-newsletter how our recruitment program has boosted enrollment. TMIST investigators and staff share ideas that may be of help to one another and to you, should you decide to take part.
On July 24, TMIST Principal Investigator Etta Pisano, MD, FACR, will show AHRA 2019 attendees how TMIST participation enables you to help shape breast cancer screening, strengthen your practice and provide covered screening exams to uninsured women.
TMIST participation also opens the door for you to co-author papers resulting from the data produced by this landmark study.
I strongly encourage you to look into TMIST participation. Together, we can move medicine forward.
Visit acr.org/TMIST for information on how to take part in TMIST.
Email any questions you may have to TMIST@acr.org.
