Experience of mismatch repair/microsatellite instability (MMR/MSI) testing among patients with advanced/metastatic colorectal cancer in the US

Abstract

Objective: We assessed knowledge and awareness of MMR/MSI testing among advanced/metastatic CRC patients in the US who had previously taken the test.

Methods: A non-interventional, cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 150 US CRC patients invited through a research panel. Eligible patients had to be ≥18 years, with stage III or IV CRC (self-reported), had undergone MMR/MSI testing for CRC in past 12 months and could recall the test, and provided informed consent. Descriptive analyses were performed.

Results: 81.3% of patients received MMR/MSI testing information from their doctor. Of 64.7% of patients who were a member of a patient support group, 86.6% received information from their groups. Most patients (82.7%) also searched for information on their own (internet searches). Most patients (93.5 to 96.9%) were satisfied with information received from these sources. Reasons for having testing done included increasing knowledge about their cancer (69.3%), being beneficial to determining treatment options (60.7%), and doctor recommendation (62.7%). Key barriers to testing included personal reservations regarding benefits of the test (29.3%), insurance coverage (27.3%), and out-of-pocket costs (18.7%); 45.3% reported no barriers.

Conclusions: Patients were well informed about MMR/MSI testing. Increased education of testing benefits and addressing financial barriers may help to further improve testing rates.

Keywords:

• Colorectal cancer
• survey
• mismatch repair/microsatellite instability testing
• patient

Transparency

Declaration of funding

The study was funded by Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA.

Declaration of financial/other relationships

JE, JL, GJ, and MM are employed by ICON plc, a contract research organization conducting research on behalf of pharmaceutical companies. MA, MC, MV, and LK are employees of Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA. Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Author contributions

MA, MM, JL, and MV were involved in the conception of the study. All authors were involved in the design of the study. JL, GJ, JE, and LS analysed the study data. All authors were involved in the interpretation of the results. JE drafted the paper, and all authors reviewed critically for intellectual content, and provided the final approval of the version to be published. All authors agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all of the patients participating in this study. The authors acknowledge Renna Patel, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA for her operational and project management support. We also thank Oana Verzes of Schlesinger Group for support in collecting the data. No other assistance in the preparation of this article is to be declared. The study was presented at ISPOR Annual Meeting, New Orleans, May 18–22 2019.

Data availability statement

Data is not made available due to ethical considerations.