The University of Hawaii Cancer Center and Hawaii Medical Service Association are partnering on the first clinical trial that focuses on whether routine imaging scans are necessary for patients with breast cancer that has spread.

Health insurers typically require regular imaging scans before covering cancer treatments. The study will compare survival outcomes, as well as anxiety, quality of life and cost of care to see if blood tests are enough to show the effectiveness of cancer treatments.

One group of metastatic breast cancer patients will use only tumor marker blood tests every six weeks to monitor the progress of the disease and another will continue with blood and imaging tests at least every three months. CT scans involve low doses of radiation and are significantly more expensive than blood tests.

The blood test costs “a couple hundred dollars versus several thousands” for the scans, said Dr. Jessica Rhee, medical director of the UH Cancer Center clinical trials office.

“Instead of doing both tests, it may be possible to decrease the frequency of testing, improve a patient’s quality of life and reduce the cost of care without affecting survival. Blood tests are associated with fewer complications, take less time, create less anxiety and cost less than body imaging scans,” she said. “In addition, over-testing is associated with a worse quality of life, including increased anxiety, distress and depression as well as increased costs of care.”

The study is part of a national trial sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. HMSA has agreed to cover cancer treatments without the requirement of imaging tests during the trial.

Hawaii residents are encouraged to participate in clinical trials because of the ethnic diversity of the population. Most participants in national clinical trials are white, according to the Cancer Center.

The study, which opened in January, is seeking at least 30 local participants. For more information, call the UH Cancer Center clinical trials office at 586-5854.