Tumour molecular profiling for deciding therapy-the French initiative.

The use of tumour molecular profiles for therapeutic decision making requires that molecular diagnostics be introduced into routine clinical practice. To this end, the French National Cancer Institute and French Ministry of Health have set up a national network of 28 regional molecular genetics centres. These facilities perform selected molecular tests, free of charge, for all patients in their region, regardless of the institution where they are treated. A specific programme has also been implemented to anticipate the launch of new targeted treatments and reduce time-to-access to new drugs and experimental therapies. In 2011, 55,000 patients with cancer in France benefited from molecular predictive tests. The French nationwide initiative for tumour molecular profiling is a tool to fight inequalities in access to molecular testing and targeted therapy, and demonstrates that molecular stratification of tumours for therapeutic decisions is a cost-effective strategy that can be successfully integrated into the health-care system.