Practical Application of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) Results: A Single Center VA Experience

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Introduction: Advancements in genomic profiling now allow for routine comprehensive somatic genomic alteration testing in all patients with advanced cancer. A subset of patients will have targetable genomic alterations, though the frequency of these alterations and the efficacy of the matched treatments have varied amongst published data. Several commercially available platforms exist, but the ideal method to appropriately interpret and apply this data across various clinical tumor types and disease stages is still unclear.

Methods: We obtained a list of all the next generation sequencing (NGS) panels submitted from our center to the National Precision Oncology Program (NPOP). A total of 53 patients were included in the analysis. We analyzed the most frequently altered genes, the tumor types most frequently profiled, the frequency of cases with targetable alterations, and the efficacy of the matched treatments in individual patients. We also compared the number and types of alterations reported as well as the length of reports generated by the three different commercial NGS platforms used in our cohort.

Results: A total of 19/53 (35.8%) patients had targetable alterations. Five out of 21 (23.8%) received a targeted therapy. Non-small cell lung cancer [NSCLC] (n = 14; 26%) and prostate cancer (n=9; 17%) were the most frequently profiled tumors. In the NSCLC cohort, 7/14 (50%) had targetable alterations, including two patients in whom a prior single gene test for the specific alteration [EGFR, BRAF] was negative. NGS panels produced on average 6.6-13.0 alterations per patient, and average report length ranged from 8.3-19.0 pages.

Conclusions: NGS testing has been implemented by providers across a variety of tumor types at our institution, though the number of patients receiving matched treatments is low. Reflexive serial single-gene testing in NSCLC for EGFR, ALK, ROS1, and BRAF is likely reducing the number of NGS panels sent in these patients. Two false-negative single gene tests in our small cohort suggests we are underdiagnosing driver alterations in these patients with this approach. We would suggest exploring decision support tools and provider education in order to encourage judicious and clinically meaningful use of this valuable resource.

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Introduction: Advancements in genomic profiling now allow for routine comprehensive somatic genomic alteration testing in all patients with advanced cancer. A subset of patients will have targetable genomic alterations, though the frequency of these alterations and the efficacy of the matched treatments have varied amongst published data. Several commercially available platforms exist, but the ideal method to appropriately interpret and apply this data across various clinical tumor types and disease stages is still unclear.

Methods: We obtained a list of all the next generation sequencing (NGS) panels submitted from our center to the National Precision Oncology Program (NPOP). A total of 53 patients were included in the analysis. We analyzed the most frequently altered genes, the tumor types most frequently profiled, the frequency of cases with targetable alterations, and the efficacy of the matched treatments in individual patients. We also compared the number and types of alterations reported as well as the length of reports generated by the three different commercial NGS platforms used in our cohort.

Results: A total of 19/53 (35.8%) patients had targetable alterations. Five out of 21 (23.8%) received a targeted therapy. Non-small cell lung cancer [NSCLC] (n = 14; 26%) and prostate cancer (n=9; 17%) were the most frequently profiled tumors. In the NSCLC cohort, 7/14 (50%) had targetable alterations, including two patients in whom a prior single gene test for the specific alteration [EGFR, BRAF] was negative. NGS panels produced on average 6.6-13.0 alterations per patient, and average report length ranged from 8.3-19.0 pages.

Conclusions: NGS testing has been implemented by providers across a variety of tumor types at our institution, though the number of patients receiving matched treatments is low. Reflexive serial single-gene testing in NSCLC for EGFR, ALK, ROS1, and BRAF is likely reducing the number of NGS panels sent in these patients. Two false-negative single gene tests in our small cohort suggests we are underdiagnosing driver alterations in these patients with this approach. We would suggest exploring decision support tools and provider education in order to encourage judicious and clinically meaningful use of this valuable resource.

Introduction: Advancements in genomic profiling now allow for routine comprehensive somatic genomic alteration testing in all patients with advanced cancer. A subset of patients will have targetable genomic alterations, though the frequency of these alterations and the efficacy of the matched treatments have varied amongst published data. Several commercially available platforms exist, but the ideal method to appropriately interpret and apply this data across various clinical tumor types and disease stages is still unclear.

Methods: We obtained a list of all the next generation sequencing (NGS) panels submitted from our center to the National Precision Oncology Program (NPOP). A total of 53 patients were included in the analysis. We analyzed the most frequently altered genes, the tumor types most frequently profiled, the frequency of cases with targetable alterations, and the efficacy of the matched treatments in individual patients. We also compared the number and types of alterations reported as well as the length of reports generated by the three different commercial NGS platforms used in our cohort.

Results: A total of 19/53 (35.8%) patients had targetable alterations. Five out of 21 (23.8%) received a targeted therapy. Non-small cell lung cancer [NSCLC] (n = 14; 26%) and prostate cancer (n=9; 17%) were the most frequently profiled tumors. In the NSCLC cohort, 7/14 (50%) had targetable alterations, including two patients in whom a prior single gene test for the specific alteration [EGFR, BRAF] was negative. NGS panels produced on average 6.6-13.0 alterations per patient, and average report length ranged from 8.3-19.0 pages.

Conclusions: NGS testing has been implemented by providers across a variety of tumor types at our institution, though the number of patients receiving matched treatments is low. Reflexive serial single-gene testing in NSCLC for EGFR, ALK, ROS1, and BRAF is likely reducing the number of NGS panels sent in these patients. Two false-negative single gene tests in our small cohort suggests we are underdiagnosing driver alterations in these patients with this approach. We would suggest exploring decision support tools and provider education in order to encourage judicious and clinically meaningful use of this valuable resource.

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Guideline-Concordance With Durvalumab in Stage 3 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Single Institution Experience

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Background: Durvalumab is a category 1 recommendation per National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines for patients with unresectable Stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) following concurrent platinum-based chemotherapy and radiation therapy (CRT). Evidence-based guidelines provide guidance to providers and can improve patient survival across several cancer types. Concordance rates with guidelines have been variable across health institutions. We aim to study the adherence and identify barriers to concordance with Durvalumab usage at our center (Plan).

Methods: This is a retrospective analysis using a QI framework to develop potential process changes for guidelines concordance. All veterans with newly diagnosed stage III unresectable NSCLC seen at the Birmingham VA from October 2017 to the present were reviewed. (Do) Data including demographics, dates of diagnosis and CRT completion, Durvalumab usage and reasons for not prescribing durvalumab were collected.

Results: Forty-two patients with stage III lung cancer were identified between October 2017 and April 2019. Thirty-five patients were evaluable. Twenty out of these patients received concurrent CRT. While 50% of eligible patients (those that had CRT) received Durvalumab only 28% percent of the initial cohort with stage III lung cancer got the therapy. Of the ten eligible patients that did not receive the drug, reasons cited included intolerance to CRT, progression on CRT and refusal by patient. One patient did not have a clearly documented reason for not receiving Durvalumab (Study).

Conclusion: Twenty-eight percent of all stage III lung cancer patients received Durvalumab. However, when looking at patients that completed CRT, usage improved to fifty percent. This discordancy with guidelines is likely explained by the difference between clinical trial populations and real-world populations, though we will work on more aggressive consideration of upfront CRT vs sequential therapy to improve eligibility (Act). In most cases, the reason for the patients not receiving concordant therapy was the listed performance status. Only one patient did not have clear documentation as to why Durvalumab was not given. Our next PDSA cycle will include measures to study reasons for low concordance with focus on patient and system level barriers.

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Background: Durvalumab is a category 1 recommendation per National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines for patients with unresectable Stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) following concurrent platinum-based chemotherapy and radiation therapy (CRT). Evidence-based guidelines provide guidance to providers and can improve patient survival across several cancer types. Concordance rates with guidelines have been variable across health institutions. We aim to study the adherence and identify barriers to concordance with Durvalumab usage at our center (Plan).

Methods: This is a retrospective analysis using a QI framework to develop potential process changes for guidelines concordance. All veterans with newly diagnosed stage III unresectable NSCLC seen at the Birmingham VA from October 2017 to the present were reviewed. (Do) Data including demographics, dates of diagnosis and CRT completion, Durvalumab usage and reasons for not prescribing durvalumab were collected.

Results: Forty-two patients with stage III lung cancer were identified between October 2017 and April 2019. Thirty-five patients were evaluable. Twenty out of these patients received concurrent CRT. While 50% of eligible patients (those that had CRT) received Durvalumab only 28% percent of the initial cohort with stage III lung cancer got the therapy. Of the ten eligible patients that did not receive the drug, reasons cited included intolerance to CRT, progression on CRT and refusal by patient. One patient did not have a clearly documented reason for not receiving Durvalumab (Study).

Conclusion: Twenty-eight percent of all stage III lung cancer patients received Durvalumab. However, when looking at patients that completed CRT, usage improved to fifty percent. This discordancy with guidelines is likely explained by the difference between clinical trial populations and real-world populations, though we will work on more aggressive consideration of upfront CRT vs sequential therapy to improve eligibility (Act). In most cases, the reason for the patients not receiving concordant therapy was the listed performance status. Only one patient did not have clear documentation as to why Durvalumab was not given. Our next PDSA cycle will include measures to study reasons for low concordance with focus on patient and system level barriers.

Background: Durvalumab is a category 1 recommendation per National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines for patients with unresectable Stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) following concurrent platinum-based chemotherapy and radiation therapy (CRT). Evidence-based guidelines provide guidance to providers and can improve patient survival across several cancer types. Concordance rates with guidelines have been variable across health institutions. We aim to study the adherence and identify barriers to concordance with Durvalumab usage at our center (Plan).

Methods: This is a retrospective analysis using a QI framework to develop potential process changes for guidelines concordance. All veterans with newly diagnosed stage III unresectable NSCLC seen at the Birmingham VA from October 2017 to the present were reviewed. (Do) Data including demographics, dates of diagnosis and CRT completion, Durvalumab usage and reasons for not prescribing durvalumab were collected.

Results: Forty-two patients with stage III lung cancer were identified between October 2017 and April 2019. Thirty-five patients were evaluable. Twenty out of these patients received concurrent CRT. While 50% of eligible patients (those that had CRT) received Durvalumab only 28% percent of the initial cohort with stage III lung cancer got the therapy. Of the ten eligible patients that did not receive the drug, reasons cited included intolerance to CRT, progression on CRT and refusal by patient. One patient did not have a clearly documented reason for not receiving Durvalumab (Study).

Conclusion: Twenty-eight percent of all stage III lung cancer patients received Durvalumab. However, when looking at patients that completed CRT, usage improved to fifty percent. This discordancy with guidelines is likely explained by the difference between clinical trial populations and real-world populations, though we will work on more aggressive consideration of upfront CRT vs sequential therapy to improve eligibility (Act). In most cases, the reason for the patients not receiving concordant therapy was the listed performance status. Only one patient did not have clear documentation as to why Durvalumab was not given. Our next PDSA cycle will include measures to study reasons for low concordance with focus on patient and system level barriers.

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