Variability among clinical practice adoption of commercial gene expression testing for prostate cancer is associated with differences in resources and prostate cancer services, according to a recent publication in JAMA Oncology (2020. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2020.6086).
Little is known about the adoption of tissue-based genomic tests in clinical practice. Researchers aimed to evaluate adoption regionally and understand common trajectories and regional commonalities.
A dynamic cohort study was performed with prostate cancer claims data from Blue Cross Blue Shield Axis. Trends in the use of commercial, tissue-based genomic testing was characterized and the proportion of test patients at the hospital referral region level was calculated.
Study authors found that genomic testing increased from 0.8% in July 2012 to June 2013 to 11.3% by July 2017 to June 2018. Five distinct regional trajectories of genomic testing adoption were identified by trajectory modeling. Regions that adopted genomic testing at higher rates had higher education levels, median household income, prostate cancer resources, and prostate cancer screening.
“In this cohort study of patients with prostate cancer, the adoption of commercial tissue-based genomic testing for prostate cancer was highly variable in the US at the regional level and may be associated with contextual measures related to socioeconomic status and patterns of prostate cancer care,” concluded the study authors.—Lisa Kuhns
