UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and South Carolina Oncology Associates participated in Integra Connect's Quality Initiatives to identify gaps in cancer care and accelerate precision oncology adoption


WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Oct. 24, 2023 - Integra Connect, LLC., the leading provider of value-based, precision medicine solutions and services for specialty care, today announced results from three studies that will be presented during the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Quality Care Symposium on October 27 - 28, 2023. The findings from these three studies – two done in conjunction with UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in Pittsburgh, PA and one done in conjunction with South Carolina Oncology Associates (SCOA) – emphasize the critical role quality initiatives play in identifying gaps in care and driving action to improve patient outcomes. Findings for all three posters will be presented at ASCO Quality Care Symposium from 7:00 - 8:00 AM ET, and then again from 11:45 AM - 1:00 PM ET on October 28, 2023.

"As cancer research advances, there is a pressing need to understand the real-world adoption of standards of care for patients and how new scientific advances can improve providers' abilities to deliver patients the right treatment, at the right time, at the right dose and at the right price," said Jeffrey A. Scott, MD, Chief Medical Officer and President of Population Health Solutions at Integra Connect. "These studies with UPMC Hillman and SCOA demonstrate our shared commitment to helping providers transform cancer care, enhance testing rates, and ultimately move our industry toward individualized, precision medicine for each and every patient."

The studies were conducted with Integra Connect as part of its Quality Initiatives program, which is designed to help oncology practices, cancer institutes, and health systems make well-informed clinical decisions to ensure patients are receiving the best possible care. Integra Connect does this by bringing together clinical data from disparate systems and sources, organizing the information into complete, longitudinal patient journeys, and conducting in-depth analyses with its AI-enabled solutions. The research highlights testing and treatment decisions compared to standards in care, as well as ways to improve patient outcomes and reduce unwarranted variations in testing and treatment.

UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and Integra Connect Identify Potential Gaps in Care for Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Prostate Cancer

UPMC Hillman elected to participate in quality initiatives with Integra Connect as a way to identify potential barriers to care and generate better outcomes for patients being treated for stage III non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and homologous recombination repair (HRR)-mutated metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Over the course of two studies, UPMC Hillman leadership was alerted to potential areas in which their providers' could deliver more precise cancer care.

For the study in patients with stage III NSCLC, when patients were put on immunotherapy within 14 days after chemo-radiation therapy there was an improvement in overall survival compared to patients who initiated treatment later on. For the study in patients with mCRPC, rates of HRR testing, HRR positivity, and PARPi use HRRm mCRPC patients at UPMC were analyzed by Integra Connect. As a result of the initial analyses and practice interventions, there was a 33% relative increase in HRR testing, with the number of HRRm mCRPC patients being treated with a PARPi increasing from 60% to 68%. Overall, both projects leveraging Quality Initiatives helped to move clinical decisions toward a more patient-centered, value-driven approach, such as effective use of the right therapy, faster time to treatment, and increased use of genomic testing.

"Advancements in cancer care are happening faster than ever and it is vital that clinicians have access to the latest insights available to inform personalized care," said Rushir J. Choksi, MD, Assistant Medical Director, Medical Oncology Network at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center. "Through this quality initiative and collaborative effort, we were able to demonstrate our commitment to deliver a higher quality of patient care in the most cost-effective manner."

Abstract details are as follows:

"Management and treatment of patients (pts) with stage III unresected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at UPMC: A quality initiative by Integra Connect PrecisionQ." (Abstract #428016 | Poster N2)
"Understanding testing for and treatment of homologous recombination repair (HRR)-mutated metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC): A quality initiative by Integra Connect PrecisionQ." (Abstract #428270 | Poster N4)
Integra Connect and South Carolina Oncology Associates Highlight the Need for Genomic Testing as a Standard of Care

South Carolina Oncology Associates (SCOA) and Integra Connect conducted a research study to assess the rates of molecular testing and biomarker positivity in patients with stage IV NSCLC, comparing those with squamous histology to those with non-squamous histology. The study utilized the Integra Connect de-identified database of more than 2 million cancer patients, of which a subset included 3,889 stage IV NSCLC patients for testing rate comparisons and 6,303 stage IV NSCLC patients for positivity rate assessments.

The results showed significantly lower testing rates in patients with squamous histology for various biomarkers compared to patients with non-squamous histology, with corresponding differences in positivity rates. Overall, these findings suggest a critical need for providers in all settings and payers to work collaboratively to ensure genomic testing is performed without barriers and biases, to ensure that all patients receive the right treatment.

"The results from this study underscores the importance of bridging the testing divide between cancer subtypes by ensuring equitable access to the latest targeted treatments," said Fred J. Kudrik, MD, President at South Carolina Oncology Associates. "By ensuring access to genomic testing, without burdening the patient with complex routes to testing, we not only enhance the chances of better outcomes but also provide improved quality of life for patients."

Abstract details are as follows:

"Comparison of molecular testing rates and biomarker positivity by histology among patients (pts) with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): A quality initiative by Integra Connect PrecisionQ." (Abstract #428272 | Poster N5)
This latest research builds on the 12 posters and abstracts that Integra Connected presented at ASCO 2023, and the organization's commitment to advancing precision oncology at scale. For more information on Integra Connect's research, please visit: https://campaign.integraconnect.com/latest-research?hs_preview=VppklfVH-115340478102.

SOURCE Integra Connect