title: Appropriate use of tumour biomarkers for treatment with innovative drugs: A retrospective study.
abstract: Performing randomised clinical trials to address the clinical usefulness of predictive and prognostic tumour markers is a complex process for several reasons, and observational experiences may thus play an important role. The present study performed an observational retrospective analysis in Area Vasta Romagna, Italy, collecting information on tumour marker determination in 760 consecutive patients who started a new line of anticancer therapy between January and June 2010. The determination of well-known biomarkers was requested for all gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) patients (n=13) and for almost all breast cancer patients (n=369), and targeted therapies were consequently prescribed. Conversely, Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) determination in colon cancer patients (n=177) was requested in ~50% of advanced cases, while epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) determination was required in slightly more than 30% of the same patients.EGFRandKRASdeterminations were requested in only 15% and 7.5% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients (n=201), respectively. There would appear to be greater appropriateness of tumour marker determination for breast cancer and GISTs than for colon cancer and NSCLC. Resources can be further optimised by standardising tumour marker determinations in terms of the timing of requests and the consequent use of the results for tailored treatment planning.
authors: Unit of Biostatistics and Clinical Trials, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola 47014, Italy.
authors: Ilaria
authors: I
authors: Massa
authors: Unit of Biostatistics and Clinical Trials, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola 47014, Italy.
authors: Oriana
authors: O
authors: Nanni
authors: Immunotherapy Unit, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola 47014, Italy.
authors: Massimo
authors: M
authors: Guidoboni
authors: Department of Medical Oncology, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola 47014, Italy.
authors: Giovanni Luca
authors: GL
authors: Frassineti
authors: Department of Medical Oncology, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola 47014, Italy.
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Rocca
authors: Department of Medical Oncology, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola 47014, Italy.
authors: Marco Angelo
authors: MA
authors: Burgio
authors: Unit of Biostatistics and Clinical Trials, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola 47014, Italy.
authors: Linda
authors: L
authors: Valmorri
authors: Unit of Biostatistics and Clinical Trials, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola 47014, Italy.
authors: Mattia
authors: M
authors: Marri
authors: Unit of Biostatistics and Clinical Trials, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola 47014, Italy.
authors: Alessandra
authors: A
authors: Piancastelli
authors: Department of Medical Oncology, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola 47014, Italy.
authors: Marina
authors: M
authors: Faedi
authors: Oncology Unit, Santa Maria delle Croci Hospital, Ravenna 48121, Italy.
authors: Maurizio
authors: M
authors: Leoni
authors: Oncology Unit, Degli Infermi Hospital, Faenza 48018, Italy.
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Tamberi
authors: Healthcare Administration, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola 47014, Italy.
authors: Mattia
authors: M
authors: Altini
authors: Department of Medical Oncology, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola 47014, Italy.
authors: Dino
authors: D
authors: Amadori
keywords: appropriateness; biological drug; resource optimisation; tumour biomarker