Live Presentation
Speak with Lynn Sukkarieh about her practicum on January 31st from 3:45-4:15pm via this .
Video Presentation
View Lynn Sukkarieh's poster presentation in this video recording:Â
Abstract
Biomarker testing (BT) is a tool that unlocks targeted treatments for cancer patients based on the genetic makeup of an individual’s tumour. The 5-year net survivability for people with colorectal cancer (CRC) is 65% and less than 15% for people with metastatic CRC. Targeted treatments can reduce morbidity and mortality from CRC, but this is not the standard of care for Canadian CRC patients. Empowering CRC patients by increasing their awareness about BT can encourage them to request BT from their physicians. The first step is to identify the gaps in knowledge about BT among CRC patients and caregivers in Canada.
Colorectal Cancer Canada (CCC) developed a pan-tumour survey aimed to assess the needs and gaps in Canadian personalized medicine by gathering the first Canadian-specific data on patients’ and caregivers' experiences with BT in cancer treatment centers across the country. The online survey was disseminated to Canadian cancer patients and caregivers between February 2021 and May 2021.
The survey sample consisted of 128 respondents from across Canada with representation from all provinces and one territory. Among all survey respondents, 69.1% said they were unaware that biomarkers could help determine the best treatment for them when they were diagnosed. Only 26.6% of survey respondents received BT; among these respondents, 0.0% received targeted therapy or immunotherapy before receiving BT which rose to 23.5% after testing. Overall, 61.8% of respondents who received BT felt that it helped them find the right personalized treatment and 76.5% said they expect the test results will increase their overall survival. The most common difficulties with access to BT experienced by respondents include lack of awareness (20.6%), lack of availability (14.7%), and lack of access to a clinical trial for their biomarker (11.8%).
The results suggest that there is a major lack of education on BT, as well as inequitable access to BT which varies by tumour site and by province, indicating the need for increased advocacy and awareness. This is because BT unlocks targeted treatment options for cancer patients at diagnosis and targeted treatments have the potential to increase patients’ overall survival and improve their quality of life.
Colorectal Cancer Canada. Montréal, QC. (2021)