Assessment of Current Biomarker Testing Practices for Common Solid Cancers in Precision Oncology in the Community Setting

May 1, 2026 updated by: ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group

Biomarker Testing in Common Solid Cancers: An Assessment of Current Practices in Precision Oncology in the Community Setting

This trial assesses current biomarker testing practices for common solid cancers in precision oncology in the community setting. Cancer biomarkers are used for diagnosing the disease, determining prognosis, predicting response to a targeted therapy, or monitoring response to therapy. Testing quality, including accuracy and timeliness, is imperative for correct disease prognosis and identification of patients who may or may not benefit from a targeted therapy. Assessing current biomarker testing practices may help doctors identify gaps and variations in testing as well as on potential ?best practices? that may be informative and generalizable to community oncology programs.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Withdrawn

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. Determine capacity of pathology practices within National Cancer Institute (NCI) Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) components/subcomponents for testing guideline-recommended biomarkers, including whether these biomarkers are tested, and how, i.e. what technologies are used and what ordering and testing processes / protocols have been implemented.

II. Determine capacity for testing for novel biomarkers and tumor molecular profiling, i.e. whether these biomarkers are tested and how, i.e. what technologies are used what ordering and testing processes/protocols have been implemented.

III. For findings in Objectives 1 and 2, determine factors influencing the heterogeneity of capacity for biomarker testing, particularly those factors that are modifiable (based on the conceptual framework above), such as cost, complexity, technologic complexity, lack of familiarity, physician and patient demand.

OUTLINE:

Participants complete a self-administered web-based Biomarker Survey and may also complete an Outcome Validation Survey.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Illinois
      • Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60625
        • Center for Business Models in Healthcare

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Onsite pathology practices within NCORP components and subcomponents that provide services to adult oncology groups

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • The study population is all onsite pathology practices within NCORP components and subcomponents that provide services to adult oncology groups.

  • An onsite pathology practice is a laboratory (lab) that is financially administered and operated by an NCORP component or subcomponent. This excludes commercial reference laboratories, such as Quest and LabCorp. To describe biomarker testing practices across NCORP components/subcomponents, we will use the pathology practice as the unit of analysis. Participating components/subcomponents should meet [element A] AND [at least one element of B OR C OR D] AND element E.

    • A) NCORP component/subcomponent provides services to adult oncology groups.
    • B) A single onsite pathology lab (and its set of testing practices), may provide biomarker/pathology testing services to one or more components or subcomponents. Irrespective of the number of components/subcomponents that use this pathology lab, we will consider this as one pathology practice, and one unit of analysis.
    • C) Several onsite pathology labs may provide services to one NCORP component or subcomponent, e.g. if the NCORP component or subcomponent represents a health system with several hospitals, and each hospital may have its own onsite pathology lab, with each pathology lab following its own set of testing practices. Therefore, each lab will represent one pathology practice and one unit of analysis.
    • D) More than one onsite pathology lab may use a common set of testing practices and provide services to one or more NCORP components or subcomponents. Given common testing practices, we will consider these labs as one pathology practice, and one unit of analysis.
    • E) The pathology practice has an informed individual who is willing to serve as a representative and gather information to complete the assessment items. This person typically is the pathology practice medical director, pathology practice administrative director and/or their designees.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Observational (survey)
Participants complete a self-administered web-based Biomarker Survey and may also complete an Outcome Validation Survey.
Other: Survey Administration
Complete surveys

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Presence of reflexive testing protocols for guideline-recommended biomarkers
Time Frame: Up to 9 months
Defined as standing protocols that do not require an oncologist order for each of the following: 1) EGFR and ALK testing in lung cancer; 2) KRAS testing in colorectal cancer; 3) BRAF testing in melanoma; and 4) HER2 testing in breast cancer. Will itemize each guideline recommendation and determine whether each pathology practice has reflexive testing protocols through self-report on the assessment. The proportion of pathology practices and exact 95% two-sided confidence intervals with reflexive-testing protocols will be calculated.
Up to 9 months
Average turnaround time of no more than 10 business days for combined EGFR and ALK results reporting in lung cancer
Time Frame: Up to 9 months
The pathology practices will indicate the average number of business days between the day the tumor tissue is available and the day that all the test results are reported to the physician. Pathology practices will be considered meeting guidelines if the average is less than or equal to 10 days. The proportion of pathology practices and exact 95% two-sided confidence intervals with average turnaround time within 10 business days will be calculated.
Up to 9 months
Factors influencing heterogeneity of capacity for biomarker testing, from among modifiable testing practice-related factors, e.g. cost, complexity, technologic complexity, lack of familiarity, physician and patient demand
Time Frame: Up to 9 months
For each biomarker-cancer combination being investigated, univariate and multivariate logistic regression modelling will be performed. There will be variables collected at the oncology component/subcomponent level and variables collected at the pathology practice level. The analysis will be completed at the level of the pathology practice, so characteristics of the oncology component/subcomponent will have to be adapted to that of the pathology practice: repeated for all of pathology practices used by one oncology component/subcomponent, or consolidated for pathology practices that service multiple oncology component/subcomponent. Variables used to assess heterogeneity will be (a) component/subcomponent characteristics: geography (census region), size (number of adult oncology beds), safety-net hospital, minority/underserved National Cancer Institute (NCI) Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) component/subcomponent, academic hospital, public-ownership type.
Up to 9 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Use of genotyping or broad molecular profiling/next generation tumor sequencing for EGFR and ALK testing in lung cancer
Time Frame: Up to 9 months
Will determine whether each pathology practice is using genotyping or broad molecular profiling / next-generation tumor sequencing through self reported behavior. The proportion of pathology practices and exact 95% two-sided confidence intervals testing in this manner will be calculated.
Up to 9 months
Use of MMR protein expression testing by immunohistochemistry (IHC) or microsatellite instability (MSI) in colorectal cancer
Time Frame: Up to 9 months
For colorectal cancer, will determine whether each pathology practice is using MMR protein expression testing by IHC or MSI through self-reported behavior. The proportion of pathology practices and exact 95% two-sided confidence intervals testing in this manner will be calculated.
Up to 9 months
Capacity to test for cMET or PTEN in lung cancer
Time Frame: Up to 9 months
Will determine whether each pathology practice has the capacity to test for cMET or PTEN through self-reported behavior. The proportion of pathology practices and exact 95% two-sided confidence intervals with the capacity will be calculated.
Up to 9 months
Capacity to test for HRAS, AKT1, PTEN or PIK3CA in colorectal cancer
Time Frame: Up to 9 months
For colorectal cancer, will determine whether each pathology practice has the capacity to test for HRAS, AKT1, PTEN or PIK3CA through self-reported behavior. The proportion of pathology practices and exact 95% two-sided confidence intervals with the capacity will be calculated.
Up to 9 months
Reason for testing novel biomarkers (used for clinical care, clinical trials, or both)
Time Frame: Up to 9 months
For novel biomarkers, will determine whether each pathology practice tests for novel biomarkers to be used for clinical care, clinical trials, or both through self-reported behavior. The proportion of pathology practices and exact 95% two-sided confidence intervals for each time point will be calculated.
Up to 9 months
Number of days between sample availability and report availability for all biomarkers tested
Time Frame: Up to 9 months
Each pathology practice will report the number of days until all biomarkers tested are completed. The average number of days across all pathology practices and 95% two-sided confidence intervals will be calculated.
Up to 9 months
Proportion of pathology practices testing for novel biomarkers using a standard reflexive testing protocol
Time Frame: Up to 9 months
Will determine whether each pathology practice tests for novel biomarkers using a standard reflexive testing protocol through self-reported behavior. The proportion of pathology practices and exact 95% two-sided confidence intervals for each characteristic will be calculated.
Up to 9 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Julia Trosman, ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
January 8, 2019

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
May 29, 2020

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
May 29, 2020

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
January 7, 2019

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
January 10, 2019

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
January 15, 2019

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
May 6, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 1, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • EAQ161CD (Other Identifier: CTEP)
  • UG1CA189828 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)
  • NCI-2018-01707 (Registry Identifier: CTRP (Clinical Trial Reporting Program))
  • ECOG-ACRIN-EAQ161CD (Other Identifier: DCP)

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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