Perceived Barriers to NGS-Based Molecular Profiling Among US Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Genomics
• Personalized Medicine

Background:

• Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is vital for personalized medicine in cancer.
• HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer (mBC) patients can benefit from genomic profiling for targeted therapies.
• Limited access to NGS hinders optimal treatment selection for mBC patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify perceived barriers to NGS testing in metastatic breast cancer.
• To understand stakeholder perspectives on NGS utilization and access.

Main Methods:

• A multi-stakeholder study involving oncologists, nurses, PAs, lab directors, pathologists, payers, and patients.
• Qualitative and quantitative assessment of barriers to NGS adoption in mBC.

Main Results:

• Awareness of NGS value is high, but inconsistent payer coverage and high patient costs limit utilization.
• Payers cited lack of clear guidelines, internal consensus, and expertise as primary hurdles for NGS access.
• 33% of payers were unaware of NCCN somatic biomarker testing recommendations.

Conclusions:

• Enhanced education for healthcare providers and payers on clinical guidelines (NCCN) is crucial.
• Addressing payer coverage, cost, and reimbursement challenges is essential for broader NGS adoption.
• Improved NGS access can lead to better-targeted therapy selection and treatment decisions for mBC patients.