• Jennifer Eriksson, Mayur Amonkar, Gemma Al-Jassar, Jeremy Lambert, Mia Malmenäs, Monica Chase, Lucy Sun, Linda Kollmar, and Michelle Vichnin.
• ICON plc, Stockholm, Sweden.
• Curr Med Res Opin. 2020 Aug 1; 36 (8): 1355-1361.

AbstractObjective: We assessed knowledge and awareness of MMR/MSI testing among advanced/metastatic CRC patients in the US who had previously taken the test.Methods: A non-interventional, cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 150 US CRC patients invited through a research panel. Eligible patients had to be ≥18 years, with stage III or IV CRC (self-reported), had undergone MMR/MSI testing for CRC in past 12 months and could recall the test, and provided informed consent. Descriptive analyses were performed.Results: 81.3% of patients received MMR/MSI testing information from their doctor. Of 64.7% of patients who were a member of a patient support group, 86.6% received information from their groups. Most patients (82.7%) also searched for information on their own (internet searches). Most patients (93.5 to 96.9%) were satisfied with information received from these sources. Reasons for having testing done included increasing knowledge about their cancer (69.3%), being beneficial to determining treatment options (60.7%), and doctor recommendation (62.7%). Key barriers to testing included personal reservations regarding benefits of the test (29.3%), insurance coverage (27.3%), and out-of-pocket costs (18.7%); 45.3% reported no barriers.Conclusions: Patients were well informed about MMR/MSI testing. Increased education of testing benefits and addressing financial barriers may help to further improve testing rates.

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