Genomic and Biomarker Testing on The Rise in OneOncology Cancer Centers

Genomic and biomarker testing is increasing at OneOncology community cancer centers across a number of tumor types, according to a press release by OneOncology.

As the number of actionable mutations grow, genomic and biomarker testing is increasing in importance. For example, National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines on gastric and esophageal cancers were recently updated to put a greater focus on biomarkers and next-generation sequencing.

"Biomarker and next generation sequencing are the backbone of personalized treatments in oncology," said Lee Schwartzberg, MD, Chief Medical Officer, OneOncology, in a press release. "Understanding current testing patterns and strategies to increase their uptake is a vital component to bring precision medicine to oncology practices across the country. These research presentations identify an important baseline for how the physicians on the OneOncology platform are bringing advanced diagnostics to their clinic and how we can improve future utilization."

According to real-world data collected using Flatiron Health’s OncoEMR electronic health record, 2045 of 3221 patients (65%) being treated at OneOncology sites with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) received next-generation sequencing compared to 13,681 of 29,572 (46%) in the broader nationwide population. Breast cancer followed a similar pattern. Of patients who went to a OneOncology clinic, 40% (513 of 1295) receive next-generation sequencing compared to 20% (2458 of 12,175) patients in the general population. 

At OneOncology, the number of patients who received all 6 NSCLC biomarker tests (ALK, EGFR, BRAF, ROS-1, PDL-1, KRAS) increased from 13% in 2015 to 57% in 2020. The median time from diagnosis to first test result was 20 days. Of the 1207 patients with actionable mutations, 32% received treatment before receiving their test results.

"The insights from this research collaboration will help to inform opportunities to improve care in biomarker testing for patients and to identify best practices in community oncology practices to truly personalize care for patients. For example, shortening the turnaround time of NGS tests may allow more patients who have actionable mutations receive appropriate treatment by reducing the number of patients who will start treatment prior to receiving test results, " said Jamie Freedman, MD, PhD, head of U.S. Medical Affairs, Genentech in a press release. "Furthermore, these real-world studies will prepare us for future research to improve the value of personalized care."

_REFERENCE:

_{OneOncology unveils data demonstrating increased utilization of genomic and biomarker testing at community cancer centers. News release. OneOncology. September 27, 2021. Accessed September 27, 2021. https://prn.to/3AObpcn.}