title: [KRAS analysis management: Process and delays].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prescription of some anti-cancer therapies is now based on the detection of specific genetic alterations that should be determined as early as possible not to put patients at a disadvantage. In 2009, the 'Aquitaine platform of molecular tumour genetics' (PGMC) developed a programme to evaluate and to improve the organisation of molecular cancer analyses, particularly the analysis of the KRAS gene. The objective was to describe the analysis process, the organization of pathology laboratories and the delays between the different phases of the process.
  
  
  METHODS
  We established a working group to describe the different steps between the prescription of molecular biology analyses and the analysis report. A retrospective study based on the first quarter of 2009 allowed us to measure management delays. In addition, a pathology laboratory organisational questionnaire allowed us to identify organisational features hindering rapid delivery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median delay between the analysis prescription and the results was 15 days (range: 7-78 days). Practices explaining longer delays were highlighted not only in the pathology laboratories (for example, pending of the prescription before sending the analysis, waiting for several cases before sending the material, sample slicing, sending by standard mail), but also within the PGMC (for example, sample testing by another technique or new extraction for non-contributory samples).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study emphasise the necessity of speeding up pre-analytical phases, and of creating an electronic procedure and regional facilities in order to provide results more rapidly to clinicians.
authors.affiliation: Réseau de cancérologie d'Aquitaine, Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: Nadège
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lapeyrere
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mathoulin-Pélissier
authors.forename: Jean-Philippe
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Merlio
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rullier
authors.forename: Geneviève
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Belleannée
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: LeBail
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hostein
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Soubeyran
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C117307:KRAS protein, human; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); D018631:ras Proteins