Patients’ willingness to pay for blood-based EGFR T790M testing: Results from a Canadian validation study of circulating DNA T790M testing.

Abstract

e18329 Background: Detection of EGFRmutations in circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in peripheral blood has been shown to have high concordance with definitive tumor biopsy samples. Patients’ perceived value and willingness to pay for novel technology can help inform policy and funding decisions in the public healthcare system. Methods: Canadian patients undergoing screening for the ASTRIS clinical trial (NCT02474355) were invited to participate in a national Canadian validation study of blood-based ctDNA T790M testing. All participants had metastatic EGFRmutant lung cancer with acquired resistance to EGFR kinase inhibitors. In addition to collection of blood samples and demographic data, patients completed a structured interview measuring their perceived value of blood-based ctDNA testing as an alternative to tumor biopsy and willingness to pay for testing using both open-ended and iterative bidding approaches. The study was supported by a grant from AstraZeneca. Results: 55 patients have been accrued of a planned 60. As of 01/31/2017, demographic data for 55 and willingness to pay data for 52 patients were available, the rest are pending. The median age of the cohort is 64 years (range 31-87), 68% are Asian (36/53), 56% female (31/55). Patients received a median of 1 prior line of treatment (range 1-7); all received prior EGFR kinase inhibitor therapy (66% gefitinib), and 34% also received prior cytotoxic chemotherapy (18/53). All but one patient preferred to have the blood test over repeat tumor biopsy. Patients were personally willing to pay a median of $400 CAD for the test (IQR $600, range 0-$10000). Patients estimated that a reasonable price for the test was a median of $150 (IQR $300, range 0-$2500). Conclusions: Lung cancer patients value ctDNA testing highly and prefer it to tumor biopsy. Despite the expectation that services like molecular testing should be covered through the Canadian public healthcare system, patients expressed willingness to pay out of pocket for ctDNA blood testing, reflecting perceived major value of this technology.