Molecular pathology testing for non-small cell lung cancer: an observational study of elements currently present in request forms and result reports and the opinion of different stakeholders

Kelly Dufraing, Kaat Van Casteren, Joke Breyne, Nicky D’Haene, Claude Van Campenhout, Sara Vander Borght, Karen Zwaenepoel, Etienne Rouleau, Ed Schuuring, Jan von der Thüsen, Elisabeth Dequeker*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

    61 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    Background: For patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), targeted therapies are becoming part of the standard treatment. It is of question which information the clinicians provide on test requests and how the laboratories adapt test conclusions to this knowledge and regulations.

    Methods: This study consisted of two components; 1) checking the presence of pre-defined elements (administrative and key for therapy-choice) on completed requests and corresponding reports in Belgian laboratories, both for tissue- and liquid biopsy (LB)-testing and b) opinion analysis from Belgian pathologists/molecular biologists and clinicians during national pathology/oncology meetings.

    Results: Data from 4 out of 6 Belgian laboratories with ISO-accreditation for LB-testing were analyzed, of which 75% were university hospitals. On the scored requests (N = 4), 12 out of 19 ISO-required elements were present for tissue and 11 for LB-testing. Especially relevant patient history, such as line of therapy (for LB), tumor histology and the reason for testing were lacking. Similarly, 11 and 9 out of 18 elements were present in the reports (N = 4) for tissue and LB, respectively.

    Elements that pathologists/molecular biologists (N = 18) were missing on the request were the initial activating mutation, previous therapies, a clinical question and testing-related information. For reporting, an item considered important by both groups is the clinical interpretation of the test result. In addition, clinicians (N = 28) indicated that they also wish to read the percentage of neoplastic cells.

    Conclusions: Communication flows between the laboratory and the clinician, together with possible pitfalls were identified. Based on the study results, templates for complete requesting and reporting were proposed.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article number736
    Number of pages20
    JournalBMC Cancer
    Volume22
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Dec-2022

    Keywords

    • Molecular pathology
    • Non-small-cell lung cancer
    • Post-analytical phase
    • Pre-analytical phase
    • Test report
    • Test requesting

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Molecular pathology testing for non-small cell lung cancer: an observational study of elements currently present in request forms and result reports and the opinion of different stakeholders'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this