2019 ASCO: Survey Finds 'Knowledge Gap' in Molecular Profiling Among Oncologists
A questionnaire aimed at assessing how well community oncologists understand “molecular profiling” results from tumor specimens found that 69% of participants either said they didn't know the answers or they responded incorrectly. In six different clinical scenarios, the oncologists were asked to match a genetic alteration to its corresponding targeted therapy—information that is key to effective personalized treatment. The results of the survey, taken at several case-based research events by 292 community oncologists who were either based in hospitals or private clinics, were presented by Singh et al at the 2019 ASCO Annual Meeting (Abstract 10510).
More Findings From the Survey
Researchers also found that community-based oncologists use molecular profiling far less frequently than do academic-based oncologists (59 of whom were polled on use of these tests). For example, community oncologists say they use this service in 33% of lung cancer cases they treat, whereas academic oncologists use these tests in 74% of their patients with lung cancer. Community oncologists reported using molecular profiling in 18% of colorectal cancer cases and 8% of breast cancer cases. Academic oncologists reported using this service in 27% of colorectal cancer cases and 0% of breast cancer cases.
“Molecular profiling to direct targeted therapy has moved very quickly from the laboratory to the clinic, and this study shows that oncologists urgently need to be educated about this potential therapeutic strategy,” said first study author Bhavana Singh, MD, MSc, a fellow at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center’s clinical partner, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. “This is a significant knowledge and practice gap, not an issue of negligent treatment,” she said, adding that while genetic testing has been available for a number of years, the two comprehensive molecular profiling tests now on the market were only approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in late 2017. Both test for up to 500 genetic mutations, deletions, copy number variations, and rearrangements for which targeted and immune therapies are approved or are under testing and expected to be approved.
The study is part of a larger body of research conducted by Dr. Singh and John L. Marshall, MD, the study’s senior investigator, which aims to look at trends in use of molecular profiling globally.
“Use of these tests in many malignancies is standard of care, and our goal is to help oncologists think about how molecular profiling links to the targeted therapy that can help their patients,” Dr. Singh said.
“The rapid expansion of knowledge is outpacing our ability to incorporate it into our daily clinical practice, even for experts in a field. We must ensure that we bridge this gap so all patients may reap the benefits of our progress,” concluded Dr. Marshall, Chief of the Oncology Division at MedStar Georgetown and Director of the Otto J. Ruesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancer at Georgetown Lombardi.
Disclosure: For full disclosures of the study authors, visit coi.asco.org.
The content in this post has not been reviewed by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Inc. (ASCO®) and does not necessarily reflect the ideas and opinions of ASCO®.
