The Tomosynthesis Mammographic Imaging Screening Trial (TMIST) is the first randomized trial to compare two types of digital mammography for breast cancer screening. This study was developed by the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group (ECOG-ACRIN) based in Philadelphia, Pa, and the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health.
Metro-Minnesota Community Clinical Research Consortium (MMCORC) is coordinating the enrollment in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area.
TMIST is comparing two types of digital mammography approved by the Food and Drug Administration: tomosynthesis (known as three-dimensional, or 3-D) and conventional (two-dimensional, or 2-D). Although 3-D mammography, being the newer technology, is likely to detect more findings that require follow-up, it is also likely to lead to more procedures and treatments. It is not known if this recent improvement in mammography technology is reducing the chances for a woman to develop a life-threatening (advanced) cancer compared with 2-D mammography. The TMIST trial aims to find out.
TMIST was opened in July 2017 to women ages 45 to 74 who are planning to get a routine screening mammogram. Women who choose to participate are randomized to receive either a 2-D or 3-D screening mammogram each year or every other year for five years depending on their age and risk factors. Everyone who participates is followed until the end of the study for breast cancer status, treatment and results from treatment.
The TMIST study is being performed at 71 sites around the United States with a planned participation of 130 sites; in Minneapolis/St. Paul this includes: Hennepin Health Care, Park Nicollet Clinic— Bloomington and soon to be activated HealthPartners Arden Hills location.
Nationally 13,234 women have participated in the trial to date, with a total of 165,000 expected to participate in the trial. Locally MMCORC has enrolled 231 women since July 2018. This number will increase as we add more locations. Enrollment is expected to continue through 2026.
To learn more about TMIST and how you can participate, go to http://www.mmcorc.org/ or https://ecog-acrin.org/tmist
MMCORC is a nonprofit research program sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and participating hospitals and clinics. Currently, the consortium represents 25 hospitals and clinics in the metro area, surrounding suburbs, rural Minnesota and Wisconsin including more than 160 physician-researchers with access to over 100 clinical trials targeted to specific types of cancer, symptom management and cancer care delivery research.
