Patient survey on cancer genomic medicine in Japan under the national health insurance system

Abstract

In Japan, comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) tests have been reimbursed under the national health care system for solid cancer patients who have finished standard treatment. More than 50,000 patients have taken the test since June 2019. We performed a nation‐wide questionnaire survey between March 2021 and July 2022. Questionnaires were sent to 80 designated Cancer Genomic Medicine Hospitals. Of the 933 responses received, 370 (39.7%) were web based and 563 (60.3%) were paper based. Most patients (784, 84%) first learned about CGP tests from healthcare professionals, and 775 (83.1%) gave informed consent to their treating physician. At the time of informed consent, they were most worried about test results not leading to novel treatment (536, 57.4%). On a scale of 0–10, 702 respondents (75.2%) felt that the explanations of the test result were easy to understand (7 or higher). Ninety‐one patients (9.8%) started their recommended treatment. Many patients could not receive recommended treatment because no approved drugs or clinical trials were available (102/177, 57.6%). Ninety‐eight patients (10.5%) did not wish their findings to be disclosed. Overall satisfaction with the CGP test process was high, with 602 respondents (64.5%) giving a score of 7–10. The major reason for choosing 0–6 was that the CGP test result did not lead to new treatment (217/277, 78.3%). In conclusion, satisfaction with the CGP test process was high. Patients and family members need better access to information. More patients need to be treated with genomically matched therapy.

Next-generation sequencing impact on cancer care: applications, challenges, and future directions

“…Nonetheless, the adoption of CGP across all clinical scenarios remains uneven ( Kou et al, 2017 ). Despite these advantages, data indicate that while 44% of such patients in Japan are recommended new forms of therapy following CGP testing, fewer than 10% receive these recommended treatments, leading many to discover that the test does not change their treatment course ( Kage et al, 2024 ).…”