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Aim: To understand physicians' attitudes and behaviors regarding EGFR testing and retesting strategies in newly diagnosed metastatic non-small cell lung cancer patients. Materials & methods: Oncologists and pathologists completed an online, cross-sectional survey. Results: Most oncologists (73.3%) and pathologists (53.4%) agreed that concurrent testing increases sensitivity for detecting EGFR mutations. Upon tissue insufficiency, oncologists and pathologists reported using liquid biopsy 77.0% and 39.0% of the time, respectively. Tumor accessibility, smoking status, patient willingness and age were key drivers of tissue re-biopsy. Most oncologists reported high confidence in proceeding to first-line therapy based solely on liquid biopsy (60.7-80.0%); fewer pathologists (37.9%) were comfortable with this decision. Conclusion: Variation in physicians' perceptions of testing and retesting highlights the need for greater stakeholder consensus.

Background: The adoption of oncology biosimilars has been slow in the USA, which may be attributed in part to stakeholder perceptions and lack of operational guidance that supports favorable access to biosimilars., Objective: Our objective was to understand the real-world implementation experiences with oncology biosimilars of US payers and healthcare professionals (HCPs) as their experience with biosimilars has evolved., Methods: In-depth qualitative interviews with payers (n = 20) and HCPs (n = 17 physicians, n = 3 practice managers) were conducted. Payers included managed care organizations (MCOs), integrated delivery networks, and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). Physicians were affiliated with a healthcare network or were community based, specialized in hematology/oncology, and had prescribed oncology biosimilars. Audio transcripts of the interviews were coded using MaxQDA software to enable descriptive analysis of the qualitative data., Results: Over 80.0% of physicians perceived the efficacy and safety of biosimilars to be highly comparable to that of originators. Up to 87.5% of physicians reported using biosimilars in > 50% of their treatment-naïve patients and were comfortable using biosimilars in all approved indications. To encourage utilization, 75.0% of MCOs/PBMs preferred biosimilars over originators in treatment-naïve patients and implementation via step therapy. Physician involvement in choosing biosimilars was minimal, which was largely dependent on practice protocols or insurance preferences. The major factor influencing payers' coverage decisions and biosimilar adoption was potential cost savings., Conclusions: US payers and physicians who have experience with biosimilars have favorable views of oncology biosimilars, particularly for treatment-naïve patients. A framework for integrating biosimilars into oncology practice is developing, primarily driven by insurance coverage, contracting, and cost benefits., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Background: Facial trauma has reached a peak in the last decades in the world; however, scanty epidemiological information is available in Chile., Aim: To report the experience in the treatment of mandibular fractures in the maxillofacial unit at Hospital del Trabajador, Santiago., Patients and Methods: A retrospective study of patients with mandibular fractures treated in a seven years period (1990-1996). Demographic and clinical aspects of the patients are analyzed, with emphasis in causes of trauma, anatomic distribution of the fractures, treatment and complications., Results: One hundred and sixty patients (aged 14 to 65 years old) sustained 245 mandibular fractures. Road traffic accidents were the most common cause of fractures (46%). The most common mandibular fracture was subcondylar. Thirty eight patients (24%) presented with associated facial fractures, while 34 (21%) had also other non-facial fractures. Open reduction and internal fixation was performed in 88 subjects. Complications occurred in 60 patients (38%)., Conclusions: Road traffic accidents are the main cause of mandibular fractures in this series of patients. The most common mandibular fracture is subcondylar, which can be linked to the high rate of occlusal complications observed.