Medical oncologists’ experience with returning molecular tumor profiling to patients.

Authors

null

Subotheni Thavaneswaran

The Garvan Institute of Medical Research, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

Subotheni Thavaneswaran , Christine Napier , David Goldstein , Bettina Meiser , Phyllis Butow , David Morgan Thomas , Mandy L. Ballinger , Megan Best

Organizations

The Garvan Institute of Medical Research, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, Australia, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, Australia, Psychosocial Research Group, Department of Medical Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital and Prince of Wales Clinical School, UNSW, Sydney, Australia, Psycho-Oncology Co-operative Research Group (PoCoG), University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Camperdown, Australia, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, University of New South Wales, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia, Psycho-Oncology Co-operative Research Group (PoCoG), Camperdown, NSW, Australia

Research Funding

Other Government Agency

Background: Molecular tumor profiling (MTP) to guide therapy is increasingly being applied in the clinic, although how medical oncologists (MOs) manage this in clinical practice is not fully understood. Methods: An online survey explored MOs’ experience with MTP interpretation, treatment (tx) decisions, identifying resources, and communicating results to patients with cancer. MOs were identified based on their participation in the Australian Molecular Screening and Therapeutics Program. Results: 108 MOs (57% male, median years of practice, 5-9 years, 83% urban-based practice and median age range, 40-49 years) participated from June 2018 – Jan 2019. Most MOs had experience with MTP (90%), and felt it was their role to discuss results. MOs felt confident discussing the process of MTP, the probability of a ‘therapeutically actionable finding’, and results (score 70-75, range 0 least confident - 100 completely confident). However, almost two-thirds of MOs needed/wanted assistance with interpretation of results, favouring a Family Cancer Clinic (FCC) helpline, patient information sheets on MTP, and decision aids. In particular, MOs were less confident discussing germline results and their implications (median score 56) but were comfortable (median score 96) to refer to an FCC. Most MOs felt there was sufficient information on the MTP report to understand results. Some preferred to receive ‘all cancer gene variants’ (36%), others only those with clinical actionability (45%), and some only those with therapeutic actionability (19%). Most MOs (85%) wanted to know the full list of genes assayed, tx recommendations, and/or a list of relevant trials. Interestingly, MOs indicated little confidence that MTP would guide useful tx decisions (median score 51) and most reserved it for the tx-refractory setting. A minimal level of evidence supporting treatment was required by 83% of MOs prior to recommending biomarker-guided tx. Conclusions: MOs are increasingly integrating MTP into clinical practice, despite uncertainty about result validity and clinical translation, particularly regarding germline results. Understanding these potential barriers is the first step in developing clinician supports to facilitate clinical translation.

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2019 ASCO Annual Meeting

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Education Research and Professional Development

Track

Medical Education and Professional Development

Sub Track

Education Research

Citation

J Clin Oncol 37, 2019 (suppl; abstr 10521)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2019.37.15_suppl.10521

Abstract #

10521

Poster Bd #

100

Abstract Disclosures

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