Approximately Two-Thirds of Surveyed Oncologists Believe that All Patients with NSCLC of Non-Squamous Histology Should be Tested for Molecular Characteristics

BURLINGTON, Mass., Dec. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Decision Resources Group, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms for specialized biopharmaceutical issues, finds that, in the United States, two-thirds of surveyed U.S. medical oncologists believe that all non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients of non-squamous histology should undergo testing for EGFR-mutations and ALK-translocation. Slightly less than half state that patients with adenocarcinoma only should be tested—a reflection of the higher rate of these molecular abnormalities in this histological subtype. Selective molecular testing of patients is deemed more cost-effective by approximately one-third of surveyed oncologists, and just over one-third of surveyed payers agree. Concurrent testing for EGFR-mutations and ALK-translocations is preferred by 80 percent of hospital-based surveyed oncologists.

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The Decision Resources special report entitled Contemporary Topics in the Treatment of Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: U.S. Physicians, Payers, and Pathologists as Gatekeepers to Market Access also finds that the lack of available tumor tissue is the main factor which limits molecular testing, as more than 80 percent of surveyed oncologists cite this as a reason for not obtaining definitive EGFR-mutation test results for some patients. This finding was confirmed by an interviewed pathologist who explained that, currently, poor tissue quality is rarely an issue.

"We also find that it takes an average of 12 days for molecular test results to be received, and the largest proportion of surveyed medical oncologists, approximately 40 percent, say this delay may impact their treatment decision for 6-10 percent of patients, most typically those who require more immediate treatment intervention due to rapidly progressing disease," said Decision Resources Group Oncology Therapy Lead Joanne Graham Ph.D. "It is encouraging to note that the majority of oncologists anticipate increasing their rates of testing of emerging NSCLC biomarkers such as KRAS, ROS1, PD-L1 and c-Met one year from now, and they believe that it will be relatively easy to include additional biomarkers to diagnostic panels to facilitate the prescribing of new agents such as Pfizer's dacomitinib, Roche/Genentech's onartuzumab and PD-1/PD-L1 directed immunotherapies."

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