Real-world practice patterns of providers managing older patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Abstract

17 Background: Most patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have advanced disease at diagnosis and are older with median age 72 years. Evidence-based treatment (EBT) selection requires availability of molecular testing (MT) results at time of treatment decision and geriatric assessment (GA) helps determine a patient’s ability to tolerate therapy. This study describes practice patterns and evidence based treatment selections of providers managing older patients with NSCLC. Methods: After provider education and using care planning software (CPS), 50 patients with advanced NSCLC from two academic centers completed surveys regarding treatment goals and decision-making preferences, and patients ≥ 65 completed a modified GA that included activities of daily living and comorbidity assessment. Once treatment was selected, a personalized care plan was generated. Comparison treatment data from 17 community patients was obtained. Results: Participants were mean age 65, 52% female, and 78% white. Of 28 stage IV patients, 79% had MT and results available at time of treatment decision, and 100% met EBT guidelines. The community cohort had 47% testing, 29% results available, and 65% met guidelines. GA results in 24 patients were 46% frail, 29% intermediate fit, and 25% fit. Two patients (8%) were frail and had a plan change due to GA results. Conclusions: Obtaining timely MT results remains challenging. Continued strategies to ensure MT and timely results should be explored, including quality assurance monitoring given the increasing importance of MT in treatment selection. GA was less impactful in this setting, likely due to later stage patients, presumed frailty, and treatment goal being palliation. We believe GA would have greater impact in early stage NSCLC where aggressive treatments are offered with curative intent.