Abstract

PurposeSeveral targeted agents demonstrated efficacy in early clinical trials for gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, but in many cases, phase-III trials and/or approval by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) are lacking. The primary focus of this study was to assess the regulatory processes associated with use and reimbursement of off-label treatment in precision oncology and to evaluate the benefit of targeted therapy in a real-world population in Germany.MethodsOur cohort comprises 137 patients with GI cancers and is biased towards cancer entities with a high frequency of known targetable alterations, such as cholangiocarcinoma. Genetic testing was used to identify molecular targets, and therapy response was evaluated based on CT scans.ResultsA molecular target for precision oncology was identified in 53 patients and 43 requests for cost coverage were submitted to health insurance companies. 60% of the requests received approval after initial application and another 7% after appeal. Half of the rejected requests were denied despite ESCAT IA level evidence. The median time between initiation of molecular testing and start of therapy was 75 days. 35 patients received matched targeted therapies (n = 28) or, in the case of MSI, immunotherapy (IO) (n = 7). We observed a trend in favor of molecular therapy when compared to the immediate prior treatment.ConclusionRelevant treatment options were identified by molecular testing in a significant subset of patients. When targeted therapies that lack EMA approval are considered, treatment initiation may be delayed by the duration of the molecular analysis and the regulatory processes.

Highlights

  • In gastrointestinal (GI) oncology, genetic alterations can serve both as negative, as well as positive predictive biomarkers

  • We report our experiences with molecular diagnostics in GI malignancies, outline the formal requirements and temporal processes associated with approval of cost coverage by German health insurance companies, and assess the clinical response we observed in patients that received individualized therapies in our center

  • The clinical relevance of precision oncology is increasingly recognized for solid malignancies, including gastrointestinal cancers

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Summary

Introduction

In gastrointestinal (GI) oncology, genetic alterations can serve both as negative, as well as positive predictive biomarkers. Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology limited therapeutic options, panel sequencing can identify molecular targets for therapy and help to ensure, that the full spectrum of clinically meaningful treatment options is offered to patients.

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