Challenges in Diagnosis and Biomarker Testing for RET-Altered Lung and Thyroid Cancer Care: An International Mixed-Method Study

BMC Medical Education (06/05/2023) Vol. 23, No. 410 Lazure, Patrice; Sireci, Anthony; Subbiah, Vivek; et al.

Researchers explored the challenges pathologists in four nations encounter when diagnosing rearranged during transfection (RET)-altered lung and thyroid cancer care (LC/TC). Participants included 107 clinical pathologists in Germany, Japan, the United States and United Kingdom. The analysis focused on selecting, performing and interpreting biomarker tests; decision-supporting communicative and collaborative structures; views of clinical trials for RET inhibitors; and obstacles related to government regulations on treatments and genomic testing for lung and thyroid cancers. More Japan-, U.K.- and U.S.-based pathologists than those in Germany considered their knowledge in selecting genomic biomarker tests suboptimal. Participants in those same three countries also had low confidence in interpreting RET tests compared with other tests. Fewer Japan- and U.S.-based pathologists felt ongoing RET inhibitor trials were useful in practice compared with their peers in Germany and the United Kingdom. Interviews also indicated government regulations were barriers to initiating timely and optimal treatment according to test outcomes. The researchers note the increasing importance of RET testing further highlights "the need for relevant continuing medical education (CME) and continuing professional development (CPD) activities for pathologists" to fill the gaps in their knowledge. They also suggest that evidence- and competency-based CME/CPD could improve collaboration skills.

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