2022 World Conference on Lung Cancer (ePosters)-EP08.02-043. The Current State of Biomarker Testing in Lung Cancer as Seen by Health Care Providers

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A recent study conducted by the GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer investigated the barriers faced by healthcare providers in implementing comprehensive biomarker testing for patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC). The study found that despite advances in biomarker testing and precision medicine, many patients with mNSCLC still do not receive comprehensive biomarker testing. Even in European countries like Spain, essential biomarker testing such as PD-L1 is not being performed on many patients.<br /><br />The study involved interviews with four healthcare providers, including oncology nurses and medical oncologists, within the GO2 Foundation's Centers of Excellence network. Surveys were also given to an additional 24 healthcare providers. The identified barriers to comprehensive biomarker testing were consistent across community-based cancer centers, indicating that patients seen at these centers are vulnerable to inadequate treatment due to a lack of testing.<br /><br />The major barriers identified by healthcare providers were long testing turnaround times, patient financial burden and reimbursement concerns, and insufficient tissue samples. These barriers have significant implications for patients, including delays in receiving appropriate treatment and the inability to order comprehensive biomarker testing.<br /><br />To address these barriers, the healthcare providers proposed several solutions. These included the adoption of liquid biopsies, the creation of centralized educational resources on biomarker testing, clarifying education on coverage and reimbursement, providing value proposition training for administrative staff, and targeted training on biopsy requirements.<br /><br />The proposed solutions have the potential to address multiple problems with singular actions. By implementing these solutions, it is expected that the rates of comprehensive biomarker testing will increase, leading to better care for patients with mNSCLC. Overall, this study highlights the need for healthcare providers and the lung cancer community to collaborate and overcome the barriers to comprehensive biomarker testing in order to improve patient outcomes.

Asset Subtitle

Daniel A. Saez

Meta Tag

Speaker Daniel A. Saez

Topic Metastatic Non-small Cell Lung Cancer - Molecular Targeted Treatments

Keywords

GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer

biomarker testing

metastatic non-small cell lung cancer

healthcare providers

barriers

precision medicine

PD-L1

oncology nurses

medical oncologists

community-based cancer centers