Making Cancer More Personal: Tracking Biomarker Testing Rates Across the US

Personalized healthcare is the future of medicine. Due to advancements in technologies such as next-generation sequencing and RNA sequencing, the ability to detect predictive and prognostic molecular tumor alterations has made it possible to customize treatment options for individual cases, leading to improved outcomes for patients. For example, Real Chemistry has licensed industry-leading health claims data in the U.S. and analytics capabilities to analyze, understand and positively impact future treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). 

Biomarker testing is an important tool for guiding treatment decisions in mCRC. These tests can provide important information about the biological characteristics of a patient's tumor and help guide treatment decisions. For example, KRAS, NRAS and BRAF testing can identify specific genetic mutations that may be associated with resistance to certain treatments, while microsatellite instability (MSI) testing can identify tumors that may respond better to immunotherapy.

However, despite the proven benefit of biomarker testing, as well as guidelines from the National Comprehensive Cancer Care Network (NCCN) recommending this approach¹, studies have exposed geographic disparities in biomarker testing for mCRC, leading to varying quality of treatment for patients. Further confirming this, Real Chemistry’s real-world data (RWD) analysis of biomarker testing rates among patients diagnosed with mCRC uncovered disparities in biomarker testing rates by state².

Geographic disparities in healthcare can result in some patients not having access to the same level of care or information as those in other areas. Challenges in tissue acquisition, practice resources, patient ability to pay, and clinical knowledge gaps have been identified as drivers in disparities in biomarker testing rates among patients with mCRC in rural versus urban areas³. These disparities can have serious implications for patient outcomes. In fact, mortality rates among patients in low-income counties have been estimated to be 30%-40% higher than in affluent counties⁴. 

Given how essential biomarker testing is to patient outcomes, it’s critical we ensure all patients have access to the benefits of biomarker testing for mCRC. One potential solution involves targeted outreach to underserved areas to increase awareness among both patients and healthcare providers. Having real-world oncology biomarker testing data by geography, practice and patient demographics allows Real Chemistry to help direct our biopharma clients to provide education where it is needed in order to initiate change. Using real-world claims data, we can monitor the impact of education outreach on adoption of biomarker testing to ensure patients receive the right treatment for their cancer diagnosis.

To discuss how we can help you use real-world oncology biomarker testing data to initiate change, please reach out to our team at ikouchlev@realchemistry.com or anti@realchemistry.com. If you will be at ASCO 2023 in Chicago, we can set up a meeting.

1. National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology Colon Cancer, Version 1.2020. 2020. https://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/colon.pdf.

2. Real Chemistry Real-World Database. April 2023.

3. Lewis MA, Stansfield L, Kelton JM, Edwards ML, Hanyoung Lieu C. Biomarker testing in patients (pts) with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC): Perspectives from U.S. oncologists (ONC) in rural areas and urban clusters. J Clin Onc. 2022;40(4_suppl):70.

4. Siegel RL, Sahar L, Robbins A, Jemal A. Where can colorectal cancer screening interventions have the most impact? Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2015;24(8):1151-1156.