Innovation in the management of the breast cancer patient pathway: from correct identification to target therapies. Perspectives, opportunities and insights

Abstract

Considering the current and future therapeutic options that are or will be available in the adjuvant treatment of breast cancer, this document reports on the insights from two multi-regional expert meetings aimed at investigating possible problems of access to the treatment pathway involving the BRCA (BReast CAncer) test. The experts stated that the update of the AIOM guidelines (diagnostic and therapeutic innovations) will require a correction of clinicians’ behaviors and a partial reorganization of the current Integrated Care Pathways (ICPs). From this point of view, the update of the AIOM GLs could supply to Regions and, above all, to all cancer networks a valid rationale for starting a process of harmonization of ICPs aimed at guaranteeing the rapid access to treatments by improving the quality of the service provided by the National Health Service (SSN). To ensure to breast cancer patients a rapid access to the latest approved treatments, experts believe that it will be necessary to update the access pathway to genetic tests. This could lead to an increase in the use of genetic tests, creating one of the main organizational and economic challenge that regions and cancer networks will have to face.