A significant implementation gap in personalised oncology has emerged from new research at the Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Centre. Only 33 percent of breast cancer patients eligible for gene expression testing actually receive it, meaning approximately two-thirds of patients who could benefit from this diagnostic tool remain untested.
Gene expression testing identifies which patients genuinely require chemotherapy, potentially sparing 20 to 30 percent of eligible patients from toxic treatments. Despite recent policy changes that addressed financial barriers through improved reimbursement, adoption rates have stalled.
Prof. Sabine Siesling’s team attributes the low uptake to systemic obstacles rather than cost constraints. The research underscores a critical challenge in modern oncology: ensuring that advances in diagnostic innovation reach patients, even when financial barriers are eliminated.
Was this article helpful?
