New study reveals how better access to testing and enhanced communication could improve ovarian cancer care

A new study by researchers funded through the Patient Voices in Research Initiative highlights the need for more standardized genetic testing for patients with advanced ovarian cancers and better patient-doctor communication to improve personalized cancer care. 

In recent years, targeted treatments called PARP inhibitors have emerged as a way to help delay cancer recurrence in patients with advanced ovarian cancer. But these drugs can cause serious side effects, and not everyone benefits equally from their use.

Luckily, a genetic test called homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) testing can help doctors identify which patients are most likely to benefit. But how do patients and clinicians use these results to make treatment decisions?

A new Canadian study, funded by the Network's Patient Voices in Research Initiative, is helping answer that question.

Led by Dr. Helen McTaggart-Cowan (Simon Fraser University, BC Cancer), researchers interviewed 20 patients and 12 clinicians across seven Canadian provinces about their experiences with HRD testing. Published in Patient Education and Counseling, the study found that both groups valued HRD testing, but identified several gaps that need to be addressed to ensure that results from these tests can be used to better pesrsonalize cancer therapies.

“We wanted to understand how patients with advanced ovarian cancer and their doctors experience HRD testing, and how the results influence treatment decisions,” says Dr. McTaggart-Cowan. “By identifying what works well and where improvements are needed, we hope to make testing more effective in real-world care and help patients make informed decisions about treatments that reflect their individual needs and priorities.”

Amongst the most significant findings outlined in the study are that clinicians called for more standardized access to HRD testing at diagnosis for all patients, while patients wanted clearer explanations of their results and how they could influence treatment decisions.

Importantly, the study found that treatment decisions depend on more than test results. While some patients were willing to accept significant side effects for a chance to delay cancer recurrence, others prioritized quality of life. These findings highlight the importance of clear communication and shared decision-making to ensure treatments reflect both the biology of a patient's cancer and their personal priorities. As one patient explained: “I want my recommendations for my treatment to be individualized to me.”

"Precision oncology aims to match treatments to the unique biology of a person's cancer," says Dr. McTaggart-Cowan. "This study shows that for personalized medicine to work well, patients need timely access to testing and clear information about what their results mean."

The findings could help inform standardized testing procedures, clearer educational resources and more meaningful conversations between patients and clinicians. Together, these improvements could help ensure that treatment decisions reflect not only which drugs are most likely to work, but also each patient's personal priorities.

Study:
Exploring patient and clinician perspectives for homologous recombination deficient (HRD) biomarker testing to guide precision medicine for advanced ovarian cancer treatment: A qualitative study.

Authors

Julia McKenna , Rachelle Payandeh, Yelena Aizenberg, Melica Nourmoussavi Brodeur, Mark Carey, Sarah E. Ferguson, Laura Hopkins, Iwa Kong, Janice S. Kwon, Susie Lau, Donna Pepin, Karla Willows, Christa Wood, Helen McTaggart-Cowan

Funding

This study was funded through an MOHCCN Patient Voices in Research Initiative grant to Dr. Helen McTaggart-Cowan for Exploring the perspectives of stakeholders for homologous recombination deficient (HRD) biomarker testing to guide precision medicine for advanced ovarian cancer treatment