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Review
. 2024 Apr:196:104289.
doi: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2024.104289. Epub 2024 Feb 8.

US physician perspective on the use of biomarker and ctDNA testing in patients with melanoma

Rachel A Fischer  1 , Isabel Ryan  1 , Kristine De La Torre  1 , Cody Barnett  1 , Viren S Sehgal  1 , Joan B Levy  1 , Jason J Luke  2 , Andrew S Poklepovic  3 , Marc S Hurlbert  4
Affiliations
Free article
Review

US physician perspective on the use of biomarker and ctDNA testing in patients with melanoma

Rachel A Fischer et al. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2024 Apr.
Free article

Abstract

New treatments have increased survival of patients with melanoma, and methods to monitor patients throughout the disease process are needed. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is a predictive and prognostic biomarker that may allow routine, real-time monitoring of disease status. We surveyed 44 US physicians to understand their preferences and practice patterns for biomarker and ctDNA testing in their patients with melanoma. Tumor biomarker testing was often ordered in stage IIIA-IV patients. Barriers to biomarker testing include insufficient tissue (60%) and lack of insurance coverage (54%). ctDNA testing was ordered by 16-18% of physicians for stages II-IV. Reasons for not using ctDNA testing included lack of prospective data (41%), ctDNA testing used for research only (18%), and others. Physicians (≥74%) believed that ctDNA assays could help with monitoring and treatment selection throughout the disease process. Physicians consider ctDNA testing potentially valuable for clinical decision-making but cited concerns that should be addressed.

Keywords: Biomarker; CtDNA; Melanoma; Monitoring; Survey; Treatment selection; US physicians.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Competing Interest Cody Barnett serves as consultant/advisor to Pfizer and to Merck. Marc Hurlbert serves as a consultant/advisor to Day One Biotherapeutics and Pfizer. Jason Luke has the following disclosures of competing interests: DSMB: Abbvie, Agenus, Immutep, Evaxion; Scientific Advisory Board: (no stock) 7 Hills, Affivant, BioCytics, Bright Peak, Exo, Fstar, Inzen, RefleXion, Xilio (stock) Actym, Alphamab Oncology, Arch Oncology, Duke Street Bio, Kanaph, Mavu, NeoTx, Onc.AI, OncoNano, physIQ, Pyxis, Saros, STipe, Tempest; Consultancy with compensation: Abbvie, Agenus, Alnylam, AstraZeneca, Atomwise, Bayer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Castle, Checkmate, Codiak, Crown, Cugene, Curadev, Day One, Eisai, EMD Serono, Endeavor, Flame, G1 Therapeutics, Genentech, Gilead, Glenmark, HotSpot, Kadmon, Ko Bio Labs, Krystal, KSQ, Janssen, Ikena, Inzen, Immatics, Immunocore, Incyte, Instil, IO Biotech, LegoChem, Macrogenics, Merck, Mersana, Nektar, Novartis, Partner, Pfizer, Pioneering Medicines, PsiOxus, Regeneron, Replimmune, Ribon, Roivant, Servier, STINGthera, Sumoitomo, Synlogic, Synthekine, Teva; Research Support (all to institution for clinical trials unless noted): AbbVie, Astellas, Astrazeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Corvus, Day One, EMD Serono, Fstar, Genmab, Hot Spot, Ikena, Immatics, Incyte, Kadmon, KAHR, Macrogenics, Merck, Moderna, Nektar, Next Cure, Novartis, Numab, Palleon, Pfizer, Replimmune, Rubius, Servier, Scholar Rock, Synlogic, Takeda, Trishula, Tizona, Xencor; Patents: US-11638728. Andrew Poklepovic serves as a consultant for Novartis, has a participatory role in a Natera Ad Board, and serves as a speaker for Natera and Grail. All other authors have no competing interests to declare.

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