Awareness and obscurity: demystifying genomic profiling in real-world practice for the members of the Turkish Society of Medical Oncology (TSMO)

E. Bayram, B. Sahin

Department of Medical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey. ertugrulbayram84@gmail.com

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• Oncology

OBJECTIVE: Molecular testing in oncology practice is increasingly being used to offer more relevant therapies to cancer patients. Our study aims to determine the real-world impact of routine incorporation of molecular testing among the Turkish Oncology community across all types of cancer and identify gaps for the first time.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This research was conducted in Turkey among medical oncologists from different backgrounds. The survey attendance was entirely voluntary. A questionnaire with twelve items (multiple choice +/- closed-ended) was utilized in this study to assess the effect of molecular tests in real clinical situations.

RESULTS: 102 oncologists with various levels of experience participated in this study. Most of the respondents (97%) reported successful implementation of molecular testing. About 10% of the participating oncologists said they preferred genetic tests at the early stages of cancer, compared to the majority who preferred genetic tests at the terminal stage. Molecular tests are often performed in separate locations and 47% of the oncologists were using a targeted panel specific to the type of malignancy.

CONCLUSIONS: Several informational difficulties must be resolved in order to have early personalized therapy as the standard treatment. We need accessible, comprehensive, and regularly updated databases to compare genetic profiling and its therapeutic implications. We also need to continue educating patients and physicians.

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