Introduction/background: This study was designed to describe real-world changes in biomarker testing among patients with non-squamous, metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC) in a community oncology setting from 2015 to 2020.
Patients and methods: This retrospective study randomly selected 500 adult patients diagnosed with nonsquamous mNSCLC to undergo chart review and data extraction. Data were extracted and validated by 2 independent abstractors. Biomarker testing rates were described before and after national guideline updates and FDA approval of targeted agents.
Results: At least 1 biomarker test was received by 89.4% of patients with mNSCLC. Of all patients, 46.6%, 34.6%, and 8.2% received both single-gene and next generation sequencing (NGS)-based testing, single-gene testing only, and NGS-based testing only, respectively. However, there were changes in testing rates at the time of drug approvals for targeted agents. Biomarker testing increased for ALK (45.0% before to 78.3% after ALK-targeted drug approval), BRAF (from 20.0% to 67.8%), EGFR (from 20.0% to 78.2%), NTRK (from 34.6% to 55.7%), and ROS1 (increased from 29.6% before approval to 74.2% after). Biomarker testing increased after changes were made to national guidelines for BRAF (from 18.8% before to 68.1% after inclusion in guidelines), NTRK (from 37.2% to 56.5%), and ROS1 (increased from 40.8% to 74.5% after guideline updates). Targeted therapy was received by 62.4% of patients with a positive biomarker.
Conclusion: Increases in biomarker testing rates were observed relative to targeted agent approvals and national guideline updates. However, many patients with non-squamous mNSCLC did not receive full genotyping in accordance with national guidelines and represent an opportunity to identify reasons and solutions for barriers to care.
Keywords: Community oncology practice; Diagnostic testing; NGS; Real-world data; Treatment guidelines.
Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Inc.