title: Oncologists' attitudes toward KRAS testing: a multisite study.
abstract: Recent discoveries promise increasingly to help oncologists individually tailor anticancer therapy to their patients' molecular tumor characteristics. One such promising molecular diagnostic is Kirsten ras (KRAS) tumor mutation testing for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients. In the current study, we examined how and why physicians adopt KRAS testing and how they subsequently utilize the information when discussing treatment strategies with patients. We conducted 34 semi-structured in-person or telephone interviews with oncologists from seven different health plans. Each interview was audiotaped, transcribed, and coded using qualitative research methods. Information and salient themes relating to the research questions were summarized for each interview. All of the oncologists in this study reported using the KRAS test at the time of the interview. Most appeared to have adopted the test rapidly, within 6 months of the publication of National Clinical Guidelines. Oncologists chose to administer the test at various time points, although the majority ordered the test at the time their patient was diagnosed with mCRC. While oncologists expressed a range of opinions about the KRAS test, there was a general consensus that the test was useful and provided benefits to mCRC patients. The rapid adoption and enthusiasm for KRAS suggests that these types of tests may be filling an important informational need for oncologists when making treatment decisions. Future research should focus on the informational needs of patients around this test and whether patients feel informed or confident with their physicians' use of these tests to determine treatment access.
authors.affiliation: Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, California.
authors.forename: Julie N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liljestrand
authors.forename: Gwen L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: Katrina A B
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Goddard
authors.forename: Tia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kauffman
authors.forename: Tatjana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kolevska
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McCarty
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.forename: Pamala
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pawloski
authors.forename: Alanna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rahm
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Carol P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Somkin
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics*; D003142:Communication; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology; D009154:Mutation; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010820:Physicians; D057285:Precision Medicine; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); D018631:ras Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C117307:KRAS protein, human; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); D018631:ras Proteins
keywords: Cancer genetics; colorectal cancer; psychosocial studies