Heliyon (May 2024)

Evidence blocks for effective presentation of genomic findings at molecular tumor boards: Single institution experience

  • Alexandra Lebedeva,
  • Olesya Kuznetsova,
  • Maxim Ivanov,
  • Alexandra Kavun,
  • Egor Veselovsky,
  • Ekaterina Belova,
  • Vladislav Mileyko,
  • Valentina Yakushina,
  • Polina Shilo,
  • Alexey Tryakin,
  • Alexey Rumyantsev,
  • Fedor Moiseenko,
  • Mikhail Fedyanin,
  • Dmitry Nosov

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 9
p. e30303

Abstract

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Genomic profiling, or molecular profiling of the tumor, is becoming a key component of therapeutic decision making in clinical oncology, and is typically carried out via next generation sequencing. However, the interpretation of the results and evaluation of rationale for targeting the uncovered alterations is challenging and requires a deep understanding of cancer biology, genetics, genomics and oncology. Multidisciplinary molecular tumor boards represent a promising strategy in the facilitation of molecularly-informed therapeutic decisions, and usually consist of specialists with various fields of expertise. To effectively communicate the biological and clinical significance of genomic findings, as well as to make molecular tumor board discussions more productive, we developed and implemented evidence blocks into case discussions in our center. We found that this approach facilitated clinicians’ understanding of the results of genomic profiling, and resulted in shorter yet more efficient case discussions within the molecular tumor board. Here, we discuss our experience with evidence blocks and how their implementation influenced the molecular tumor board practice.