Lessons from a National Liquid Biopsy Program to Provide Cancer Testing and Treatment for Patients with Advanced...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Genomics
• Molecular Diagnostics

Background:

• Personalized cancer therapy relies on precise identification of tumor genetic alterations.
• Liquid biopsy (LBx) offers a minimally invasive method for tumor mutation profiling.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report the outcomes of a pan-Canadian liquid biopsy program for patients with advanced solid tumors.
• To assess the feasibility, clinical utility, and economic impact of a nationwide LBx testing initiative.

Main Methods:

• Plasma samples from 4229 patients with advanced solid tumors were analyzed using the Follow It 38-gene panel.
• A proprietary platform identified clinically relevant circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) variants.
• Results were reported following international guidelines on clinical significance.

Main Results:

• Reports were delivered for 97% of patients within approximately 8 days.
• ctDNA mutations were detected in over 50% of cases.
• Clinical trial recommendations were made for 76% of participants.
• LBx testing in combination with tissue biopsy was found to be cost-saving, gaining 0.1138 QALYs.

Conclusions:

• The pan-Canadian LBx program demonstrated successful implementation of a cost-effective and robust testing strategy.
• The program showed sustained demand, feasibility, and significant economic and health benefits.
• Liquid biopsy is a valuable tool for advancing personalized cancer treatment.