A blood test that offers prognostic information on patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who do not have an EGFR mutation can reduce the costs of end-of-life treatment while improving survival and quality of life, a new study shows.
The test, known as VeriStrat (from Biodesix), is intended to assist clinicians in making treatment decisions for patients with advanced NSCLC who lack an EGFR mutation. Test results are available to the ordering physicians within 72 hours. Patients can be classified into one of two categories on the basis of the results. Those who are VeriStrat-Good have a favorable prognosis and can expect a significant clinical response to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), whereas patients who are VeriStrat-Poor have a less favorable prognosis and will not experience a significant response to EGFR TKIs.
According to the manufacturer, VeriStrat has been shown to be predictive of responses to EGFR-targeted agents in second-line treatment for patients who experience progression while receiving or after receiving platinum-based chemotherapy.
"Data published recently demonstrate that use of the VeriStrat test resulted in an 89% decrease in ineffective treatments for patients who tested VeriStrat-Poor," said David Brunel, CEO of Biodesix, in a statement.
That study, published last month in Current Medical Research and Opinions, examined how VeriStrat testing altered treatment decisions.
Prior to testing, treatment with EGFR TKIs was being considered for 2250 patients (90%).
VeriStrat classified 1950 patients as VeriStrat-Good and 544 patients as VeriStrat-Poor.
For the patients classified as VeriStrat-Poor, basic supportive care was recommended for 25%, and standard systemic therapy was recommended for 65%. Consistent with previous publications, physicians recommended EGFR TKI therapy for only 10% of VeriStrat-Poor patients but for 89% of VeriStrat-Good patients.
Overall, the treatment recommendations were consistent with test results in 98% of cases, and the use of ineffective therapies was decreased by 89% for VeriStrat-Poor patients.
On the basis of these findings, company researchers estimated cost savings for these treatment decisions, and reported these cost analysis data at the recent American College of Medical Quality annual meeting.
They noted that after physicians received the VeriStrat test results, treatment recommendations changed for approximately 30% of all patients and for more than 80% of the patients classified as VeriStrat-Poor.
These changes in the treatment regimen were associated with a 0.7-month improvement in overall survival, they said.
The use of the VeriStrat test decreased drug acquisition costs by $6392, they reported.
They calculated that VeriStrat testing resulted in a net healthcare savings of $1050 per patient, including the cost of treating adverse events, increased cost of surveillance (due to increased life expectancy), and the cost of testing.
"These studies show that the VeriStrat test is a clinically useful tool in classifying patients with non–small cell lung cancer as either VeriStrat-Good or VeriStrat-Poor to direct optimal treatment options," said Hongbin Chen, MD, PhD, associate professor of oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institutes, Buffalo, New York.
"It is a blood-based proteomic test with rapid turnaround time," said Dr Chen, who was approached by Medscape Medical News for an independent comment.
"Oncologists choose EGFR TKIs based on mutational status, but we are not good at predicting which patient may not benefit from systemic chemotherapy. This test helps to identify patients less likely to benefit from platinum-based therapies and hence is cost-effective."
Medscape Medical News © 2017
Cite this: VeriStrat Testing Reduces Costs in NSCLC - Medscape - Apr 10, 2017.
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