Sociodemographic Features, Health Care Costs, and Treatment Implications of Genomic Classifier Testing for Localized Prostate Cancer in the United States.

Purpose: Biopsy tissue-based genomic classifiers (GCs) for prostate cancer are commercially available tools to enhance prognostication. They may corroborate candidacy for active surveillance/watchful waiting (AS/WW) or identify men who are more likely to benefit from radiotherapy (RT) with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). We analyze real-world use of GC and associations with clinical decision making.

Patients and methods: We examined US commercial (n = 134,561) and Medicare (n = 68,431) insurance claims of men with newly diagnosed, localized prostate cancer between 2013 and 2022. We evaluated utilization of GCs over time and compared use of AS/WW, RT with or without ADT, radical prostatectomy (RP), or focal ablative therapy (FT) based on the receipt and type of GC.

Results: GC utilization increased from <1% to 17% in 8 years with a median payment of $3,001 (IQR, $0-3,873). Younger age, higher median household income, and high-deductible health insurance were associated with higher odds of receiving a GC (all P < .001). Patients with GC were more likely to pursue AS/WW than treatment (odds ratio, 2.00 [95% CI, 1.85 to 2.1]; P < .001). Patients receiving OncotypeDX, Prolaris, and Decipher were most likely to pursue AS/WW, RP, and RT with ADT, respectively (all P < .001). Prolaris was ordered more than three times as often in Detroit as in any other city, whereas OncotypeDx was ordered more than twice as often in New York City as in any other city.

Conclusion: We show contemporary, real-world GC utilization trends, costs, and associations with treatment patterns. Prospective trials are ongoing to validate GC-informed treatment, but US uptake has expanded and management is associated with the use and type of GC.