Abstract 4111: Trends in the use of broad genomic sequencing-directed therapy among Medicare patients with newly diagnosed advanced cancer in the United States from 2018-2020: A retrospective analysis from the SEQUENCE study
Authors: Adeboyeje Gboyega , Caplan Eleanor O. , Xu Yihua , Chase Monica , Sheth Sheetal , Suehs Brandon T. , Myer Nicole 
Published: June 2022

Introduction/Purpose: Recent advances have led to approval of multiple new targeted drugs across a variety of indications based on genomic markers. In part due to the increasing number of therapeutically actionable genomic markers in many cancers, whether a strategy of upfront broad next-generation sequencing (NGS) could potentially improve selection of patients for targeted drugs compared to narrow/single gene panels remains uncertain. We examined recent trends in the proportions of patients receiving sequencing-directed therapy following the use of broad NGS panel testing among newly diagnosed patients with advanced cancer in the United States (US).

Methods: Using a retrospective cohort study design to analyze administrative claims data on patients (65-89 years) enrolled in a national US payer Medicare Advantage plans from 2018 through 2020, we identified patients with select incident advanced/metastatic cancer diagnoses (lung, colorectal [CRC], breast, ovarian) based on previously validated algorithms. We defined 2 cohorts by the occurrence of broad NGS (51+ genes) versus narrow (≤50 genes) sequencing within 182 days of diagnosis using a previously validated algorithm based on laboratory tax identification numbers, current procedural terminology codes, and diagnosis codes. We described the rates of sequencing-directed therapy (defined as receipt of an FDA-approved genomically targeted drug) within 90 days of testing by broad NGS versus narrow panels across tumor types and subgroups defined by race (White versus Black) and annual income (&lt;$50,000 versus ≥$50,000) data.

Results: We identified 32,130 patients with incident advanced cancer during the study period. Overall (broad plus narrow panels) testing rates varied by cancer type (lung, 40.1%; CRC 28.6%; breast 53.9%; ovarian 41.7%). Compared to narrow gene panels, a higher proportion of patients with lung and ovarian cancer sequenced with broad NGS panels initiated an FDA-approved genomically targeted drug within 90 days of testing (lung: 8.6% versus 7.5%; ovarian: 9.2% versus 5.5%). For CRC and breast cancer, narrow gene panels matched a higher proportion of patients with targeted drug within 90 days of testing versus broad NGS panel testing (CRC: 5.1 versus 4.5%; breast: 41.7% versus 35.7%).

Conclusions: A higher proportion of patients initiated a genomically-targeted drug after broad NGS panel testing compared with narrow gene panels in lung and ovarian cancer. As the number of actionable genomic markers in advanced cancers increase, it will be important to ensure that this technology is adopted to improve upon the existing standard of care and that aligns with values important to patients.

Citation Format: Gboyega Adeboyeje, Eleanor O. Caplan, Yihua Xu, Monica Chase, Sheetal Sheth, Brandon T. Suehs, Nicole Myer. Trends in the use of broad genomic sequencing-directed therapy among Medicare patients with newly diagnosed advanced cancer in the United States from 2018-2020: A retrospective analysis from the SEQUENCE study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 4111.