INTERMOUNTAIN PRECISION GENOMICS STUDY PUBLISHED IN ONCOTARGET MEDICAL JOURNAL
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, USA, March 16, 2018 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Cancer research journal Oncotarget published a recent study indicating precision oncology may improve overall survival and lower healthcare costs for advanced cancer patients. The peer-reviewed study is online in the February 2018 edition of Oncotarget.
Researchers and collaborators from Intermountain Precision Genomics, Navican Genomics, and Stanford University School of Medicine, analyzed the progression of 44 total patients — half of whom received genomic testing and precision treatment -- and compared the results to a similar group of patients who received standard chemotherapy. The median overall survival of the precision medicine group was double that of those who did not receive targeted therapy. They also found that those who underwent precision therapy had about 7% lower healthcare-related costs in the last three months of life as compared to those who underwent standard therapy.
First author on the study, Dr. Derrick Haslem, director of medical oncology at Intermountain Healthcare said, “Any time we can improve overall survival and quality of life, that’s a win-win situation for the patients, their families, and health professionals.
“This study shows healthcare costs were actually less per week of life in the targeted therapy approach versus the standard chemotherapy approach,” Haslem explained. “Not only were patients living longer, but the costs to actually care for those patients were less. Additionally, based on the findings, there were fewer inpatient stays and emergency room visits, and patients enjoyed a better quality of life because they didn’t have to spend time in the hospital. They had more time to spend with the people they love.”
Intermountain Healthcare is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare through high quality and sustainable costs. Intermountain Precision Genomics (IPG) is a service of Intermountain Healthcare. For more information about Intermountain Precision Genomics, please visit: precisioncancer.org, join the dialog on Facebook (Intermountain Cancer Centers), or follow @intermtncancer on Twitter.
Researchers and collaborators from Intermountain Precision Genomics, Navican Genomics, and Stanford University School of Medicine, analyzed the progression of 44 total patients — half of whom received genomic testing and precision treatment -- and compared the results to a similar group of patients who received standard chemotherapy. The median overall survival of the precision medicine group was double that of those who did not receive targeted therapy. They also found that those who underwent precision therapy had about 7% lower healthcare-related costs in the last three months of life as compared to those who underwent standard therapy.
First author on the study, Dr. Derrick Haslem, director of medical oncology at Intermountain Healthcare said, “Any time we can improve overall survival and quality of life, that’s a win-win situation for the patients, their families, and health professionals.
“This study shows healthcare costs were actually less per week of life in the targeted therapy approach versus the standard chemotherapy approach,” Haslem explained. “Not only were patients living longer, but the costs to actually care for those patients were less. Additionally, based on the findings, there were fewer inpatient stays and emergency room visits, and patients enjoyed a better quality of life because they didn’t have to spend time in the hospital. They had more time to spend with the people they love.”
Intermountain Healthcare is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare through high quality and sustainable costs. Intermountain Precision Genomics (IPG) is a service of Intermountain Healthcare. For more information about Intermountain Precision Genomics, please visit: precisioncancer.org, join the dialog on Facebook (Intermountain Cancer Centers), or follow @intermtncancer on Twitter.
Daron Cowley
Intermountain Healthcare
801-442-2834
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