204P - Assessing biomarker testing awareness among patients and caregivers in NSCLC through an interdisciplinary global survey

Background

As targeted therapies become standard in NSCLC treatment, enhancing patient and caregiver engagement is key to improving interactions with physicians. Variability in understanding biomarker testing from both patients and clinicians can affect treatment decisions. This study assesses the awareness of NSCLC patients and caregivers regarding biomarker testing to improve care outcomes.

Methods

A global survey in five languages, aimed at people diagnosed with NSCLC in the past five years and caregivers of NSCLC patients. Conducted from January to April 2024 using Qualtrics as the survey platform and shared through oncology clinics, advocacy groups, and social media, it gathered data on awareness and experiences. This data was analyzed by participant type to identify knowledge gaps, and Chi-square tests were used to assess differences among categorical variables.

Results

The survey involved 345 respondents (305 patients, 40 caregivers) from 38 countries, showing high recognition of biomarker test importance—96% of patients and 97% of caregivers deemed it extremely important. However, understanding varied: only 19% of patients and 26% of caregivers fully grasped their results. Knowledge of biomarker testing improved before and after tumor mutation analysis, with patients’ understanding rising from 2% to 29% (p<0.01), and caregivers from 6% to 27% (p<0.01). Despite valuing these tests, mixed satisfaction with information quality (70% of patients and 68% of caregivers were satisfied) indicates a need for better communication. Respondents suggested shorter turnaround times (56%), more detailed testing information (49%), and simpler explanations (44%). Caregivers sought quicker results (58%) and more comprehensive treatment options (45%), highlighting the need for clearer information.

Conclusions

This global survey has identified substantial gaps in the delivery of accurate and clear communication regarding biomarker testing in people with NSCLC and those in a caregiving capacity. These findings highlight the need for more effective communication strategies in this setting to improve healthcare access, outcomes, and advocacy.

Clinical trial identification

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

COR2ED.

Funding

COR2ED.

Disclosure

F. Lopez-Rios: Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board: Roche, Janssen, MSD, AstraZeneca, Bayer, BMS, Takeda, Thermo Fisher, Lilly, Pfizer, AbbVie, DS; Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker: Roche, Lilly, Janssen, MSD, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Bayer, BMS, Takeda, Thermo Fisher; Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant: Thermo Fisher, Lilly, Roche, Pfizer, AstraZeneca. A. Baird: Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker: AstraZeneca, Roche; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Went to visit a lung cancer screening site in the UK as part of a panel with travel/hotel paid directly by the company.: AstraZeneca; Non-Financial Interests, Other, Communications Committee member (2023-2025): IASLC; Non-Financial Interests, Other, Steering Committee: Roche; Other, I have been president of Lung Cancer Europe (LuCE) since May 2020. This is a non-remunerated position, however, LuCE has received support from the following organisations: Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Blueprint Medicines, BMS, Boehringer Ingelheim, Daiichi Sankyo, Lilly, Merck, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Regeneron, Roche, Sanofi, Takeda, ThermoFisher, Janssen, Novocure. In this role, I also partake in patient advisory boards, steering committees and other patient related events.: Lung Cancer Europe (LuCE). C.D. Rolfo: Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker, Egypt event: AstraZeneca; Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker, Foundation One Liquid Biopsy: Roche; Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker, Middle East: MSD; Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board, NGS Lung: Inivata, Archer; Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board, Lung: Boston Pharmaceuticals, Novartis, AbbVie, Bayer, Janssen, Invitae, Novocure; Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board, Lung pipeline: MD Serono; Financial Interests, Institutional, Invited Speaker, Lung: COR2ED, Daiichi Sankyo, Physicians Education Resource, GME; Financial Interests, Institutional, Advisory Board, Lung: Regeneron, Intellisphere, CEA, Bayer U.C. LLC, General Dynamics, MedStar, Imagene; Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker, Lung: Merck; Financial Interests, Institutional, Coordinating PI, Empower me studyGrant by LCRF and Pfizer: Pfizer- Lung Cancer research Foundation; Financial Interests, Institutional, Coordinating PI, Global PI LUNG itrapid@024 trial: MD Serono; Non-Financial Interests, Institutional, Other, Analysis of Liquid Biopsies in Lung Cancer Trial: Guardanthealth; Non-Financial Interests, Other, Faculty ESMO NSCLC Metastatic 2021-2025: ESMO; Non-Financial Interests, Leadership Role, Vice-President: ISLB International Society of Liquid Biopsy; Non-Financial Interests, Leadership Role, Scientific Board member: ESO European School of Oncology; Non-Financial Interests, Leadership Role, Deputy Chair Educational Committee: IASLC International Association for Study of Lung Cancer; Non-Financial Interests, Leadership Role, Educational chair: OLA Oncology Latin American Association; Non-Financial Interests, Other, Editor in Chief of the Journal: CROH Critical Reviews in Oncology Hematology; Non-Financial Interests, Other, Associate Editor: ESMO Open. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.