Retrospective Observational Study Determining the Clinical Effectiveness of Whole Genome and Transcriptome Analysis to Guide Advanced Cancer Care

WGTA provides an opportunity to improve health outcomes for patients by tailoring treatments to each individual's genomic profile. The BC POG Program is a single arm research study integrating WGTA information into clinical decision-making for patients with advanced stage, incurable cancers.The clinical effectiveness of POG's approach is unknown. This retrospective quasi-experimental observational study will estimate the real-world effectiveness of WGTA for guiding advanced cancer care. To identify a counterfactual for POG's single-arm approach, matching methods combined with administrative healthcare data will be used. The survival impacts of POG's approach compared to usual care in matched controls will then be estimated.

Specific Aims and Hypotheses

This study aims to estimate the overall survival effects of POG's approach versus usual care for patients with advanced cancers.

Hypothesis (null): there is no difference in survival across POG and usual care patients

Hypothesis (alternative): POG patients who initiated WGTA live longer, on average, than usual care patients