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Background: There is a paucity of data on biomarker testing rates in rural populations with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). To assess biomarker testing practices, oncologists in rural areas and urban clusters in the US were surveyed. Materials and Methods: A web-based survey was administered to oncologists spending ≥40% of their time practicing in rural areas or urban clusters and who had treated ≥2 patients with stage IV mCRC in the prior month. Results: Ninety-nine oncologists completed the quantitative survey and 17 the qualitative interview. Among respondents, 97% reported ordering biomarker tests. Oncologists reported testing for KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, HER2, and mismatch repair deficiency/microsatellite instability in 72%, 65%, 63%, 56%, and 66% of patients with metastatic disease, respectively. Forty-one percent reported performing reflex testing. The most cited testing barriers were lack of insurance coverage, insufficient tissue samples, and long turnaround times. Conclusion: Further assessment of rural testing practices is needed. In this study, oncologists in the US were surveyed to investigate practice patterns related to biomarker testing in rural areas and urban clusters, uncover obstacles to biomarker testing, and understand the role of telehealth in metastatic colorectal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To describe treatment patterns and patient and provider characteristics associated with the recently introduced biosimilar rituximab-pvvr. Methods: This retrospective analysis included adult patients with one or more claims for rituximab-pvvr, with an index date of 23 January 2020 and a study period covering 1 January 2019-31 July 2020. Results: Of 249 patients included, the most common rituximab-pvvr indications were non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (77.5%) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (11.2%). Some patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (42.5%) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (39.3%) switched to rituximab-pvvr from the reference product or another rituximab biosimilar. Most patients were aged ≥65 years (63.5%) and were male (54.6%). Most (59.0%) rituximab-pvvr prescribers practiced in the south of the USA. Conclusion: Utilization occurred in approved and extrapolated indications. These preliminary findings suggest switching between reference product and rituximab biosimilars; rituximab-pvvr combination regimens are being adopted in real-world oncology practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]