PathGroup Introduces Molecular Cancer Panels

PathGroup, the Tennessee-based pathology practice, has introduced a genomic profiling panel for community-based oncologists.

Known as SmartGenomics, it includes panels for in-depth testing for lung, colon, brain and thyroid cancers, as well as for melanoma/GIST.

"Genes that are relevant at diagnosis of lung cancer are not the same as those of melanoma or colon adenocarcinoma," said Pranil K. Chandra, PathGroup's medical director of molecular pathology services in a statement. "PathGroup has profiled thousands of patients and we have found that the addition of diagnostic testing at biopsy via SmartGenomics and gold-standard technologies are true advances to our customers and ultimately our patients. Integrating genomic profiling into patient management and therapy selection is the future of clinical oncology practice and cancer pharmacotherapeutic development."

PathGroup has about 90 pathologists, making it one of the largest such practices in the United States. Company officials said it developed the tests to improve care options for the oncologists it contracts with. "When considering the likelihood of recurrence in many cancers, having a baseline of the most commonly altered pathways for each tumor allows us to determine what changes have occurred since initial diagnosis," said Jeffrey F. Patton, M.D., chief executive officer of Tennessee Oncology, a PathGroup client.

The tests are not being marketed directly to patients. Instead, PathGroup "is actively promoting and educating clinicians such as medical and radiation oncologists, surgeons and hospital pathologists as to the benefit of testing their patients through all stages of cancer both at initial diagnosis and relapsed/refractory disease," according to company spokesperson Jessica Mollmann.

Pricing for the tests on the panel was not available. "There are multiple test methodologies and technologies that may or may not be performed based on the patient's history," Mollmann explained.

Payer coverage for PathGroup testing has been a bit of an issue. According to Mollmann, "payer coverage is currently inconsistent and ranges from blanket non-coverage policies for Next-Generation Sequencing panel testing to payers requiring prior authorization."

Takeaway: PathGroup is trying to expand its reach and market share with oncology-based genomic testing.