AstraZeneca UK has launched its first ever iPhone, iTouch and iPad application (app) for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene testing in non-small cell lung cancer which has been designed as an educational resource for UK geneticists, pathologists and medical oncologists. The free app provides key information on EGFR testing in an easily accessible form, and is aimed at broadening education and awareness of the importance of EGFR testing in this area of medicine.
EGFR mutation testing is a relatively new procedure and aims to identify a subgroup of patients diagnosed with advanced NSCLC whose tumours harbour an EGFR TK-activating mutation. EGFR gene testing is important because a patient's response to treatment with an EGFR TK inhibitor (TKI) will vary depending on their EGFR mutation status.1
Dr Mick Peake, UK National Clinical Lead for Lung Cancer said "This resource is useful and timely given that EGFR mutation testing has been introduced in the last year or so into the NHS. Being able to access information about EGFR in this format should also maximise the utility of the information among the clinicians involved in the important task of EGFR testing."
Mark Jones, AstraZeneca UK Marketing Company President, said: "This is one of AstraZeneca UK's first applications for use with the iPhone, iTouch and iPad, and demonstrates our commitment to education for NHS professionals around EGFR testing in advanced non-small cell lung cancer, which only started nationally a year ago. As a service to medicine, and as part of our commitment to personalised medicine, AstraZeneca has supported the funding and development of a testing network for EGFR in partnership with the NHS to ensure that patients who can benefit from this test have access to it. We hope that this new free app will provide useful educational information to ensure that all eligible patients receive an EGFR test."
The easy-to-use app includes information on EGFR-mutation testing, when and how to carry it out; a case study to highlight a patient's journey through diagnosis, and management options. The application was developed in collaboration with thirteen international experts across Europe and Asia, including five UK experts.
The app can be downloaded, free, from the iTunes app store. More information on EFGR testing can be found on AstraZeneca UK's EGFR website.
Notes:
About the iPhone APP
UK experts contributing to the EGFR iPhone, iTouch and iPad app were Dr. David Gonzalez-de-Castro, Head of Molecular Diagnostics, The Institute of Cancer Research and Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London; Professor Ian Cree Cancer Laboratory, Pathology Centre, Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth, UK; Dr. John Gosney Consultant Thoracic Pathologist, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool; Professor Keith Kerr Consultant Pathologist, Department of Pathology, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Professor of Pulmonary Pathology, Aberdeen University Medical School, Aberdeen, Scotland; Dr. Mick Peake, Consultant in Respiratory Medicine, National Clinical Lead NHS Cancer Improvement, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, UK.
About EGFR testing
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a protein found on the surface of cells to which proteins or ligands such as epidermal growth factor (EGF) bind. When a ligand binds to EGFR, it activates the tyrosine kinase enzyme, triggering reactions that cause the cells to grow and multiply. EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC can be identified through biopsy testing at the point of diagnosis. This is an additional test that the oncologist requests along with other standard diagnostic tests (histology testing) to identify what kind of lung cancer a patient has, and importantly does not require any additional procedures for the patient. If the EGFR test is done at the same time, this avoids any delay in the start of treatment.
About Lung Cancer
Lung cancer has an annual incidence of around 47.4 per 100,000 (60.8 and 37.1 per 100,000 men and women respectively) and is the United Kingdom's biggest cancer killer.2
Lung cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in the UK. Each year more than 38,000 people are diagnosed with lung cancer in the UK.2 There are several different types of lung cancer, NSCLC being the most common. 80% of lung cancer patients are diagnosed with NSCLC.2 The UK has one of the worst lung cancer survival rates in Europe, 8.6% survival at 5-years in England compared with a mean of 12.6% across Europe.2
References
1 Sharma SV et al. Epidermal growth factor receptor mutations in lung cancer. Nat Rev Cancer 2 2007;7:169-181.
2 Cancer Research UK, accessed November 2010.
Source:
AstraZeneca