Precision Oncology in Canada: Converting Vision to Reality with Lessons from International Programs

Area of Science:

• Health services research
• Genomic medicine
• Oncology

Background:

• Canadian healthcare systems face challenges adapting to precision medicine in oncology.
• Integrating genomic and clinical data for real-world evidence (RWE) requires robust infrastructure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine international personalized medicine initiatives for lessons applicable to Canada's precision oncology efforts.
• To identify best practices for generating RWE acceptable to health technology assessment (HTA) bodies.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a worldwide search of personalized medicine programs, focusing on precision oncology.
• Reviewed articles published between January 2016 and March 2021, with hand-searches back to December 2005.
• Identified 39 initiatives across 37 countries with potential for generating RWE on oncology biomarker utility.

Main Results:

• Highlighted four key international initiatives (Genomic Medicine France 2025, UNICANCER, German Medical Informatics Initiative, CANCER-ID) offering lessons for Canada.
• Identified common themes among 35 other evaluated programs, emphasizing collaboration and data harmonization.
• Found a need for integrated systems to support data sharing across jurisdictions.

Conclusions:

• Canada must adopt a national biomarker strategy to generate RWE for precision oncology.
• Uniting stakeholders and overcoming jurisdictional/technological barriers are crucial for success.
• International collaboration and data harmonization are essential for advancing precision oncology.