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G.N. Schwartz



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    MINI 01 - Pathology (ID 93)

    • Event: WCLC 2015
    • Type: Mini Oral
    • Track: Biology, Pathology, and Molecular Testing
    • Presentations: 1
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      MINI01.12 - Implementation of a Molecular Tumor Board: The Impact on Treatment Decisions for NSCLC Patients Evaluated at Dartmouth-Hitchcock in One Year (ID 2719)

      11:50 - 11:55  |  Author(s): G.N. Schwartz

      • Abstract
      • Presentation
      • Slides

      Background:
      Genetic profiling of tumors is a powerful approach to predict drug sensitivity and resistance. Definitive interpretation of the clinical significance of somatic mutations is possible for only a few well studied mutations. For the majority, prediction of clinical significance is challenging. We established a Molecular Tumor Board (MTB) at our Cancer Center to interpret individual patients’ tumor genetic profiles and provide treatment recommendations.

      Methods:
      DNA from tumor specimens was sequenced in a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)-certified laboratory to identify coding mutations in a 50-gene panel. Cases were evaluated by a MTB composed of molecular and anatomic pathologists, medical oncologists, basic research scientists, and genetic counselors.

      Results:
      35 cases were evaluated in 1 year by the MTB including 8 metastatic NSCLC cases. The most common reason for MTB referral was for recommendations on targeted therapies (91.9%), and for potential germline mutations. Tumors exhibited genetic heterogeneity: 71 different mutations were found across 300 genes (for NSCLC 18 mutations across 10 genes). In 18/32 of advanced/metastatic cases, MTB recommended non-standard therapy with a specific targeted agent (11 clinical trials; 7 off-label use), 4 of the 18 patients were subsequently treated with a MTB-recommended targeted therapy. The remaining 14 patients continued on current therapy because disease was stable (n=4), were treated with non-MTB-recommended standard therapy (n=4), declined conventional therapy (n=5), or died prior to receiving further therapy (n=1). For 4 out of the 8 NSCLC cases MTB recommended a BRAF inhibitor (1), RET inhibitor (1), or MET inhibitor (2). One patient received a BRAF inhibitor, 6 continued on current standard of care therapy, one declined therapy.

      Conclusion:
      Case evaluation by a multidisciplinary group of individuals in the context of a MTB frequently shapes treatment options and decisions. Importantly, anticipated obstacles to capitalizing on the benefits of a MTB such as access to drugs were rarely encountered in the entire cohort and in the NSCLC patients. Instead, the most commonly encountered reasons that MTB-recommended therapy was not administered stemmed from patient preferences, and genetic profiling at a very late stage of disease.

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