Abstract
This study determined the frequency and factors associated with EGFR testing rates and erlotinib treatment as well as associated survival outcomes in patients with non small cell lung cancer in Kentucky. Data from the Kentucky Cancer Registry (KCR) linked with health claims from Medicaid, Medicare and private insurance groups were evaluated. EGFR testing and erlotinib prescribing were identified using ICD-9 procedure codes and national drug codes in claims, respectively. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine factors associated with EGFR testing and erlotinib prescribing. Cox-regression analysis was performed to determine factors associated with survival. EGFR mutation testing rates rose from 0.1% to 10.6% over the evaluated period while erlotinib use ranged from 3.4% to 5.4%. Factors associated with no EGFR testing were older age, male gender, enrollment in Medicaid or Medicare, smoking, and geographic region. Factors associated with not receiving erlotinib included older age, male gender, enrollment in Medicare or Medicaid, and living in moderate to high poverty. Survival analysis demonstrated EGFR testing or erlotinib use was associated with a higher likelihood of survival. EGFR testing and erlotinib prescribing were slow to be implemented in our predominantly rural state. While population-level factors likely contributed, patient factors, including geographic location (areas with high poverty rates and rural regions) and insurance type, were associated with lack of use, highlighting rural disparities in the implementation of cancer precision medicine.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-18-2020
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0237790
Funding Information
JMK P30 CA177558 National Cancer Institute cancer.org The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
Related Content
Data cannot be publicly shared because they are both potentially identifying and contain sensitive patient data, including geographic location, dates of diagnosis and dates of testing and receiving a medication. In addition, there are contractual agreements between the University of Kentucky and the Kentucky Cancer Registry precluding data sharing. Any requests for data must be submitted to: Jacyln K. McDowell, Epidemiologist, Kentucky Cancer Registry 2365 Harrodsburg Rd, Suite A230 Lexington, KY 40504
Repository Citation
Larson, Kara L.; Huang, Bin; Chen, Quan; Tucker, Thomas C.; Schuh, Marissa; Arnold, Susanne M.; and Kolesar, Jill M., "EGFR Testing and Erlotinib Use in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients in Kentucky" (2020). Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications. 152.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/markey_facpub/152
Notes/Citation Information
Published in PLOS ONE, v. 15, issue 8, e0237790.
© 2020 Larson et al.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.