The introduction of biomarkers and genomically matched therapies has revolutionised our approach to cancer treatment. In addition, focus on the molecular aspects of tumours, combined with advances in high computing power and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), will continue to drive several paradigm shifts in cancer care. Soon, it may be the tumour’s molecular profile, in addition to its origin, that defines the cancer’s categorisation and associated optimal treatments.
Comprehensive Genomic Profiling (CGP) – a single test for all cancer types – is highly effective for this purpose. Recent ESMO guidelines also recommend the use of broad molecular diagnostics to identify appropriate therapies.
Tumour profiling using CGP offers substantial advantages in managing molecularly complex cancers. The use of CGP enables the timely identification and administration of genomically matched therapies, which, when available, offers health-economic benefits by providing substantial clinical improvements and significantly better patient outcomes at only minor additional costs. Furthermore, CGP offers societal benefits by accelerating treatment pathways, enabling patients to rejoin the workforce more quickly and reducing the burden on caregivers.
Although significant steps have been taken in recent years to improve patient access to CGP in Europe, the full benefits are not realized today due to limited patient access. There are various preconditions for the widespread adoption of CGP in clinical practice.
- Awareness – Awareness of the true value of CGP compared to other iterative molecular
diagnostic technologies among policymakers and other stakeholders to ensure action. - Appropriate assessment – Use of health technology assessment, including cost-effectiveness analysis, for new diagnostic technologies is needed to enable policy-makers, Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Agencies and payers to compare CGP with the current standard of diagnostics.
- Investment costs – Understanding the need of upfront investment and the return on investment when implementing CGP in clinical practice.
- Infrastructure needs – The large-scale implementation of CGP requires a proper organisational and data infrastructure, including high-quality facilities and coordination between centres.
- Capacity and capability – Implementing CGP demands sufficient capacity and capability, specific skills in data interpretation and integration of clinical bioinformaticians and molecular biologists into healthcare teams, with discussions best conducted within a molecular tumour board.
- Clinician-friendly data reports – To improve the adoption of CGP, data reports need to be easier to understand and more actionable for clinicians.
Members of the European Coalition for Comprehensive Genomic Profiling (ECGP), and its Steering Group, intend to engage in constructive dialogue with European Parliament and European Commission, policy makers of European countries, Ministries of Health, HTA-agencies, and payers across Europe.
The goal is to unlock the enormous potential of CGP and to discuss ECGP’s recommendations to stakeholders on improving patient access to CGP.
Download the document:
ECGP Recommendations – The Untapped Potential of Comprehensive Genomic Profiling
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