Maximizing Survival:

Authors: Grace K. Kane, MS; David P. Cranney; Diane Faraone, PharmD; Douglas Londono, PhD; Nathan J. Markward, PhD, MPH

Metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most difficult cancers to treat, but advancements in precision oncology are offering new hope. Biomarker testing, combined with targeted therapies, is reshaping patient outcomes and extending survival in ways once thought impossible. Yet, despite its proven benefits, adherence to testing guidelines remains inconsistent, and disparities in survival persist.

This whitepaper dives deep into real-world data from over 167,000 patients to uncover the transformative power of biomarker testing in metastatic NSCLC. The findings are compelling: patients who underwent biomarker testing and received both chemotherapy and targeted therapy achieved a median survival of 573 days, compared to just 39 days for those who received neither testing nor treatment. Targeted therapies guided by actionable biomarkers like EGFR mutations and ALK rearrangements also demonstrated significant survival benefits, with patients receiving targeted therapy alone achieving a median survival of 481 days.

Beyond survival outcomes, the study explores the influence of demographic and socioeconomic factors on care and outcomes. While testing and treatment were distributed similarly across groups, disparities in survival persisted, with factors like female gender, Hispanic ethnicity, and being married associated with reduced risk of death. These findings highlight the need for not only guideline-concordant care but also broader efforts to address systemic inequities in cancer outcomes.

Dive into the data, explore the findings, and discover how precision oncology is shaping the future of cancer care. Read the whitepaper now.