Author of

• 10923

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  P1.18 - Poster Session 1 - Pathology (ID 175)

  • Event: WCLC 2013
  • Type: Poster Session
  • Track: Pathology
  • Presentations: 1
  • Moderators:
  • Coordinates: 10/28/2013, 09:30 - 16:30, Exhibit Hall, Ground Level

  • 10933

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    P1.18-010 - Running to keep up! The timeline of evolving research in EGFR testing and targeted therapies in New Zealand (ID 1577)

    09:30 - 09:30  |  Author(s): L. Batten
    • Abstract

    Background
    The rapid pace of the development of new knowledge that may impact on clinical practice means that the time between scientific developments and their implementation in clinical practice may be short. This makes research work rewarding and exciting, but also much more akin to sprinting than running a marathon. We use a Health Research Council-funded study on the feasibility of introducing EGFR testing into New Zealand for Maori lung cancer patients as an example of the complexity of timelines between research and clinical practice

    Methods
    Aims of this mixed method study included exploring clinicians' and patients’ views on EGFR testing, which was not routinely available in New Zealand at that time.

    Results
    Between the time of the research proposal being written and the 12-month study completed and findings published, the landscape changed dramatically, with an emerging national focus on access to both EGFR testing and tyrosine kinase inhibitors. The time line for the project and key findings are presented alongside the evolving research, international and national guidelines for molecular testing and implementation of EGFR testing. We suggest how these developments may influence the implementation of future molecular testing such as ALK testing, which remains sporadic in New Zealand.

    Conclusion
    The translation of scientific discoveries to research findings to clinical practice guidelines is convoluted and complex rather than orderly and sequential. This case of EGFR testing provides lessons for the translation of other scientific discoveries, which may significantly improve the care of lung cancer patients