PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Carbonnaux, Mélodie
AU  - Souquet, Pierre-Jean
AU  - Meert, Anne-Pascale
AU  - Scherpereel, Arnaud
AU  - Peters, Matthew
AU  - Couraud, Sébastien
TI  - Inequalities in lung cancer: a world of <em>EGFR</em>
AID  - 10.1183/13993003.01157-2015
DP  - 2016 May 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - 1502--1509
VI  - 47
IP  - 5
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/47/5/1502.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/47/5/1502.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2016 May 01; 47
AB  - Epidermal growth factor receptor gene (EGFR) mutation status has emerged as a crucial issue in lung cancer management. Availability and cost of tests and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) may vary as a function of country development.We conducted a prospective specialist opinion survey to map EGFR test and EGFR-TKI availability and detect associations with the Human Development Index (HDI). A questionnaire was sent to specialists in thoracic oncology in all United Nations Member States.We obtained responses from 74 countries, comprising 78% of the worldwide population. Nonresponding countries had significantly lower HDI rank than responding countries. EGFR mutation analysis was routinely available in 57 countries (70% of the worldwide population). The cost of the test was <US$500 in 49 countries (42.5% of the worldwide population). Test availability and cost were both significantly linked to HDI. Erlotinib, gefitinib, afatinib and icotinib were routinely available in 75%, 66%, 31% and 23% of the worldwide population, respectively, also associated with HDI.EGFR mutation testing and EGFR-TKIs are widely accessible in routine practice worldwide. However, there are large discrepancies in access to this innovative treatment path and in its cost for patients as a function of country development.Availability and cost of EGFR tests and TKI drugs are tightly associated with a country's Human Development Index http://ow.ly/Y79G8