Closing the Gap in Tumor Testing: Why Precision Matters in Cancer Care

When someone is diagnosed with cancer, their treatment journey often begins with a crucial step: understanding the biology of their tumor. Advanced tumor profiling, also known as molecular or genomic testing, can identify the mutations that drive cancer growth. This information enables clinicians to select treatments specifically designed to target those mutations, rather than relying solely on the cancer’s location or type.

But here’s the challenge: 71% of health plans are more restrictive than the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines when it comes to tumor testing.¹ That means many patients never receive the testing that could determine which therapies will work best for them. Instead, they may face more trial-and-error treatment approaches that consume valuable time, expose them to unnecessary side effects, and potentially compromise the effectiveness of their care.

What Are the NCCN Guidelines?

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) is a nonprofit alliance of leading cancer centers. They bring together experts from across the country to create evidence-based guidelines for cancer care. These guidelines are widely recognized as the gold standard for diagnosing, testing, and treating cancer.

For example, NCCN guidelines recommend when tumor profiling should be performed and which types of tests are appropriate. Physicians use these recommendations to inform their clinical decisions, and health plans often refer to the guidelines when determining coverage.

When a health plan is more restrictive than NCCN guidelines, it means the plan isn’t covering testing that leading experts believe is medically necessary. That gap can leave patients without access to the very information their doctors need to design the most effective treatment plan.

Why Tumor Testing Matters

Tumor profiling can make a real difference in outcomes. By identifying the genetic changes fueling a cancer, physicians can:

• Match patients to targeted therapies that address those specific mutations.
• Avoid ineffective treatments that are unlikely to help.
• Open the door to clinical trials offering access to next-generation therapies.
• Reduce side effects by focusing treatment where it matters most.

This isn’t just science; it’s a lifeline. Every person deserves the chance to benefit from the most effective and personalized treatments available.

Where Kadance Fits In

At Kadance, access to tumor testing should not be limited by the restrictions of a health plan. Our precision care model closes this gap by ensuring that advanced tumor testing is part of the support we offer. We coordinate tissue and blood collection, providing access to cutting-edge genomic analyses that extend far beyond the narrow coverage many plans allow.

This means members and their care teams have the insights they need to build a treatment plan around the cancer’s unique molecular profile, not just its type. The result? Care that is more precise, more effective, and more compassionate.

Delivering on the Promise of Precision Medicine

Precision medicine is not just a buzzword. It’s the future of cancer care. It represents a shift away from one-size-fits-all treatment to an approach that accounts for the unique genetic makeup of both the patient and their tumor. By bringing these advanced tools within reach, Kadance helps ensure that more people receive therapies that can make a meaningful difference in their outcomes.

Cancer care is already an arduous journey. Access to the right testing and treatment shouldn’t be another barrier patients face. With Kadance, members have a partner to help them navigate the complexity and gain access to the care they deserve.

Curious how tumor testing changes real-world treatment decisions? Read our follow-up post on why tumor profiling matters, with examples from lung, breast, and colorectal cancer.

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References

¹Ferreira-Gonzalez A, Ko G, Fusco N, Stewart F, Kistler K, Appukkuttan S, Hocum B, Allen SM, Babajanyan S. Barriers and facilitators to next-generation sequencing use in United States oncology settings: a systematic review. Future Oncol. 2024;20(35):2765-2777. doi: 10.1080/14796694.2024.2390821. Epub 2024 Sep 24. PMID: 39316553; PMCID: PMC11572137.