Use of the Oncotype DX® colon cancer test changed treatment recommendations in 29 percent of stage II colon cancer patients, according to the results of a study published in Current Medical Research and Opinion.

Stage II colon cancer refers to cancer that extends through the wall of the colon but has not invaded lymph nodes or spread to distant parts of the body. Many patients with this stage of disease have good outcomes with surgery alone, and routine adjuvant (post-surgery) chemotherapy is not currently recommended for stage II colon cancer. Chemotherapy may, however, be considered for stage II patients with a higher risk of cancer recurrence.

The Oncotype DX colon cancer test evaluates 12 genes in a sample of tumor tissue and generates a Recurrence Score. The Recurrence Score provides information about the likelihood of cancer recurrence—and as a result, can improve treatment decisions.

The Partnership for Health Analytic Research (PHAR) performed a clinical utility analysis of the Oncotype DX colon cancer test and found that that use of the assay changes treatment recommendations in 29 percent of stage II colon cancer patients.

The PHAR clinical decision impact survey of physicians who ordered the Oncotype DX colon cancer test showed that knowledge of a patient’s Recurrence Score® is associated with changes in the medical oncologists’ treatment recommendations in 29 percent of cases. Two-thirds (67 percent) of changes in treatment recommendations were decreases in treatment intensity (changes from chemotherapy to observation or from oxaliplatin-containing chemotherapy to treatment with fluoropyrimidine monotherapy), while one-third (33 percent) of changes were increases in treatment intensity.

The researchers concluded that the Recurrence Score changed treatment recommendations in 29 percent of patients with stage II colon cancer. Use of the assay might lead to reductions in treatment intensity.

Reference:

Cartwright T, Chao C, Lee M, et al. Effect of the 12-Gene Colon Cancer Assay Results on Adjuvant Treatment Recommendations in Patients with Stage II Colon Cancer. Current Medical Research and Opinion. Published online November 7, 2013: doi:10.1185/03007995.2013.855183

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Tags: Adjuvant (I-III, A-C) Colon Cancer, Colon Cancer, News Tips and Features Other