Discussion 6: Next‐Generation Genetic Sequencing in Oncology: Ready for Prime Time?

Mr Klein leads another discussion with Michael Kolodjiez, MD, Lee N. Newcomer, MD, MHA, John L. Fox, MD, MHA, and Jerry Conway. The panel responds to whether there are gaps in targeted gene analyses. They also discuss other issues including bioinformatics, and how payers, providers, and pharmacists might collaborate on improving care through genetic sequencing.

“Clearly there is a groundswell of the physician community who wants to go out and do this on every case and start directing therapy that way without the evidence. I know that each and every one of you sees a request on probably an hourly basis now. So, we’re here. People are already taking off with this without having the evidence volubly developed, and the question is will we be forced to come off our position where we’re saying no, you’ve got to have the evidence before we’re beginning, and when the evidence is there, we’ll be there,” says Dr Fox.

“I’ve talked about the collaborative approach and I think that the physicians that are here at the table are leading physicians in terms of the payer perspective, in terms of how do you figure out a multivariate set of questions,” Mr Conway adds. “Alone, no; it’s not sustainable for us to take it on alone, but in a collaboration, in a federated model where we’re working together across multiple systems, multiple contributors to the data—the lung master protocol is one way to do it and there might be other ways to do it—but I think getting together and thinking out of the box and trying to figure it out will have an enormous benefit for patients over the long term.”