Characteristics, treatment patterns, and economic burden of patients with metastatic cervical cancer receiving systemic anticancer therapy.

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (28_suppl) ◽  
pp. 51-51
Author(s):  
Xiaoyun Pan ◽  
Lincy S. Lal ◽  
John White ◽  
Seyed Hamidreza Mahmoudpour ◽  
Christian Valencia

51 Background: In 2021, 14,480 patients are estimated to be diagnosed with cervical cancer in the US; 16% of patients are expected to have metastatic disease for whom the 5-year survival rate is 17.6% per SEER estimates. Patients with metastatic cervical cancer (mCC) are treated mainly with systemic therapy. This study aims to describe the clinical characteristics, demographics, treatment patterns, and economic burden of patients with mCC receiving systemic therapy. Methods: Eligible women had been diagnosed with cervical cancer, as evidenced by >2 outpatient or >1 inpatient claim in the Optum Research Database from January 2014 through January 2020. Patients were included if they had metastasis within 6 months before or after cervical cancer diagnosis, with evidence of systemic treatment on or after the latter of a claim date for cervical cancer disease or metastatic disease. The index date was the first-line treatment initiation date. Patients were required to have ≥6 months of pre-index continuous enrollment. The top 3 treatment regimens and median treatment duration by line of therapy were described. All-cause per-patient-per-month (PPPM) costs (2019 US dollars), including plan and patient paid amounts, were reported for full follow-up period from first-line and second-line therapy initiation. Results: The study sample consisted of 778 patients (mean age, 59 years; commercial, 58%; Medicare Advantage, 42%). The mean (median) follow-up period was 14 (9) months. Top baseline comorbidities were diseases of the urinary system (71%) and diseases of the female genital organs (70%), and the median Charlson comorbidity index was 7. In the first line, 80% of patients received platinum-based therapy and 23% received bevacizumab (bev). Of 778 patients, only 294 (38%) received second-line therapy, with 34% receiving bev. Top first-line treatment regimens were carboplatin + paclitaxel (27%), cisplatin (21%), and bev + carboplatin + paclitaxel (10%); the median (95% CI) duration of treatment was 3.4 (3.1-3.7) months. Top second-line treatment regimens were bev + carboplatin + paclitaxel (13%), carboplatin + paclitaxel (11%), and pembrolizumab (6%); the median duration of treatment was 3.8 (3.1-4.2) months. Mean all-cause total PPPM costs were $19,519 from first-line and $22,660 second-line therapy initiation (table). Conclusions: This study indicates that real-world mCC patients have short treatment durations and significant economic burden with first-line and second-line therapy. Novel therapies associated with greater clinical benefits in patients with mCC may provide economic benefit.[Table: see text]

Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (22) ◽  
pp. 2892-2892
Author(s):  
Claudia Crippa ◽  
Samantha Ferrari ◽  
Monica Drera ◽  
Marinella Calarco ◽  
Antonio Regazzoli ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 2892 Poster Board II-868 Background and aim. While multiple myeloma (MM) still remains largely incurable, therapeutic options for patients with MM are expanding. However the best way to use the different effective regimens, either in combination or in sequence, during the course of MM in the single patient is still unknown. Data from controlled studies rarely report the treatments received before and after the enrollment of patients in the clinical trial, which may significantly impact on response and survival. As an example, the best treatment for patients relapsing after first-line high-dose melphalan (HD-Mel) and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is not standardized. To this end we have retrospectively analyzed an uniform cohort of such patients treated at our Institution, comparing their outcome according to the type of second-line and further consolidation treatment received. Patients and methods. In 156 patients affected by MM and treated between 1997 and 2008 with HD-Mel and ASCT as first line therapy, relapse has occurred in 92 (59%). Females were 39 (42%), males 53 (58%), median age was 60 (range 34-75). As induction therapy before ASCT, 89 (97%) had received VAD regimen, and only 3 (3%) thalidomide/bortezomib-based regimen. Sixty-one patients (66%) had received a single ASCT and 31 a double ASCT (34%). A second-line therapy was given to 87/92 patients. They were subdivided in 3 subgroups according to the type of second-line treatment received: 1) thalidomide-based regimens (THAL) were given to 55 pts (63%) followed by a consolidation ASCT in 13 (24%) 2) bortezomib-based regimens (BORT) were used in 13 (15%) and subsequent ASCT in 3 of them (23%) 3) chemotherapy and/or steroids (CHEMO) were used in 19 (22%) followed by ASCT in 15 (79%). Median follow-up from diagnosis was 57 (13-145) in THAL, 39 (17-140) in BORT and 59 months (25-113) in CHEMO respectively. The baseline characteristics, including age, of the three subgroups were similar as well as the CR/VGPR and ORR rates obtained after first-line treatment (THAL 47% and 87%; BORT 69% and 100%; CHEMO 53% and 100%, respectively). The subgroups also did not differ in median duration of first response, which ranged from 13 to 15 months and median time to second treatment, which was 26 months in all subgroups. The proportion of patients receiving a double ASCT were significantly higher in BORT (69%) compared to THAL (34%) (P=0.03) and CHEMO (5%) (p=0.002), and in THAL (34%) compared to CHEMO (5%) (p=0.015). Results. After second line therapy the ORR (CR+VGPR+ PR) of the three subgroups was: THAL 60%, BORT 77% and CHEMO 58%. (p=NS). The second CR/VGPR rate was non significantly higher after BORT (46%) than after THAL (25%) or CHEMO (21%) (p=0.17). Moreover, when considering patients not undergoing second-line consolidation ASCT, the ORR was significantly better in THAL and BORT subgroups compared to CHEMO (50%, 70% and 0%, respectively p=0.03). After a median follow-up from second-line treatment of 28 months (range 1-99), the 2-y PFS was 38% after THAL (median 18 months), 34% after BORT (median 16 months) and 17% after CHEMO (median 12 months) (p=NS). The 2-y OS was 78% (median 49 months), 70% (median not reached), and 70% (median 33 month) after THAL, BORT and CHEMO, respectively (p=NS). However when considering patients not undergoing second-line consolidation ASCT, the 2-y OS was significantly better after THAL and BORT than after CHEMO (p=0.024). Conclusion. In spite of having frequently received a first-line double ASCT, BORT patients seemed to achieve responses of better quality. However, in patients relapsing after first-line HD-Mel and ASCT, the choice of THAL, BORT or CHEMO-based regimens as second-line therapy did not seem to impact on overall response rates and survival, provided that patients treated with CHEMO could be consolidated with a second ASCT. Hence newer drugs may be reserved for those patients not fit for ASCT, preserving them for effective third-line treatment in the other patients. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (10) ◽  
pp. 718-724 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen-Cong Ruan ◽  
Yue-Ping Che ◽  
Li Ding ◽  
Hai-Feng Li

Background: Pre-treated patients with first-line treatment can be offered a second treatment with the aim of improving their poor clinical prognosis. The therapy of metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) patients who did not respond to first-line therapy has limited treatment options. Recently, many studies have paid much attention to the efficacy of bevacizumab as an adjuvant treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of bevacizumab plus chemotherapy compared with bevacizumab-naive based chemotherapy as second-line treatment in people with metastatic CRC. Methods: Electronic databases were searched for eligible studies updated to March 2018. Randomized-controlled trials comparing addition of bevacizumab to chemotherapy without bevacizumab in MCRC patients were included, of which, the main interesting results were the efficacy and safety profiles of the addition of bevacizumab in patients with MCRC as second-line therapy. Result: Five trials were eligible in the meta-analysis. Patients who received the combined bevacizumab and chemotherapy treatment in MCRC as second-line therapy showed a longer overall survival (OS) (OR=0.80,95%CI=0.72-0.89, P<0.0001) and progression-free survival (PFS) (OR=0.69,95%CI=0.61-0.77, P<0.00001). In addition, there was no significant difference in objective response rate (ORR) (RR=1.36,95%CI=0.82-2.24, P=0.23) or severe adverse event (SAE) (RR=1.02,95%CI=0.88-1.19, P=0.78) between bevacizumab-based chemotherapy and bevacizumabnaive based chemotherapy. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the addition of bevacizumab to the chemotherapy therapy could be an efficient and safe treatment option for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer as second-line therapy and without increasing the risk of an adverse event.


1995 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 2722-2730 ◽  
Author(s):  
B L Weber ◽  
C Vogel ◽  
S Jones ◽  
H Harvey ◽  
L Hutchins ◽  
...  

PURPOSE We evaluated single-agent intravenous (IV) vinorelbine as first- and second-line treatment for advanced breast cancer (ABC) in patients who were not resistant to anthracyclines. Objective tumor response (TR) and toxicity were assessed. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 107 women were enrolled onto this multicenter, nonrandomized, open-label phase II study. Patients were stratified into first- and second-line treatment groups, based on prior treatment history. Vinorelbine was initially given at 30 mg/m2/wk, with dose modification for toxicity as indicated. Therapy was continued until disease progression or severe toxicity mandated withdrawal or until the patient asked to be removed from the study. RESULTS The objective response rate for all patients was 34% (95% confidence interval [CI], 25% to 44%): 35% (95% CI, 23% to 48%) for first-line patients and 32% (95% CI, 20% to 47%) for second-line patients. Nine first-line and three second-line patients obtained a complete response (CR). The median duration of objective response was 34 weeks in both groups. The overall survival durations of first- and second-line patients were 67 weeks and 62 weeks, respectively. Granulocytopenia was the predominant dose-limiting toxicity. Two patients died on study as a result of granulocytopenic sepsis. CONCLUSION Single-agent vinorelbine is an effective and well-tolerated agent for first- and second-line therapy of ABC. The results of this study confirm the findings of similar international trials and suggest vinorelbine should be considered a valid treatment option for patients with ABC and a potential component in future combination regimens for this disease.


Blood ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 110 (11) ◽  
pp. 4608-4608
Author(s):  
Alina Kokhno ◽  
Elena Parovitchnikova ◽  
Elena Mikhailova ◽  
Yulia Olshanskaya ◽  
Irina Kaplanskaya ◽  
...  

Abstract Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) represents a heterogenous group of myeloid neoplasms characterized by abnormal differentiation and maturation of myeloid cells, bone marrow failure and genetic instability. The recent clinical and laboratory investigations suggest that MDS is closely related to diseases in which the bone marrow failure is mediated at least in part by the immune system. The are few studies concerning the of efficacy of treatment of MDS pts with cyclosporine A (CSA) but they are limited to the group of pts with bone marrow hypoplasia. The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of CSA treatment in MDS pts as first line or second line therapy. 48 pts with different forms of MDS were included in study. The group of first line CSA treatment included 30 pts, male-18/female-12, RA-3, RARS-1, RCMD-18, RAEB-7, RAEBt-1, 20-normal karyotype, 10-different abberations including: 5q−, 16q+, −7, 12q+, −Y, [11p+,7q−] and complex abb. Hypoplastic bone marrow was revealed in 15 pts, hyperplastic-8 pts, hypo/hyper-7 pts. Second line therapy group included 18 pts, male-9/female-9, RCMD-11, RARS-1, RAEB-5, RAEBt-1, normal karyotype-3, cytogenetic anomalies-13 (+8, 5q−,−7, +8 and complex abb.). Hypoplastic bone marrow was revealed in 12 pts, hyperplastic-4 pts, hypo/hyper-4 pts. The first line therapy consited of splenectomy in 8 pts, low doses of Ara-C-3, interferon-α-3, chemotherapy-2 and ATG-2 pts. CSA was applied at 5–10 mg/kg/day initially and then adjusted according to blood levels and toxicity. The maintenance dose was 1–3 mg/kg/day. Minimum time to response evaluation was one month. Complete response (CR) was defined as normal PB counts, BM aspirate; partial response-improvement of PB counts to 50% of normal and freedom from transfusions; stabilization-decrease of transfusion requirements and stabilization of PB counts for more then 1 month. Total response rate in first group was 60% (18 pts) with median follow up of 10 months (2–134). CR was estimated in 20% (6pts), median follow-up 72 months (44–134). 2 pts with CR are in clonal remission. 2 pts from response group developed acute leukemia (AL). 40% of pts showed no response.58% of pts without response developed RAEB or AL. 42% of pts were in stable disease and were treated with another modalities. The response rate in second group was 61% (11 pts) with median follow-up of 7 months (1–78). 22% (4 pts) achieved CR, median follow-up 60 months (43–78). 39% of pts showed no response. 71% from these pts (5) transformed to RAEB or AL. 2 pts remained in stable disease. In both groups response was registrated from 1 to 4 months from treatment initiation (median 3 months). CR was achieved in the majority of pts after 1 year of treatment. Response was achieved in 77% of pts with hypo/hyper and hypoplastic bone marrow and in 12% of pts with hyperplastic bone marrow. Overall survival was decreased in pts with more the 5% blasts in bone marrow (p=0,02 for 1st line group, p=0,075 for 2nd line group), and increased for pts with hypo and hypo/hyper bone marrow cellularity (p=0,002 for 1st line group). There was no impact of cytogenetics. We may conclude, that CSA demonstrates good efficacy in therapy of MDS pts, especially for pts with RA, RARS and RCMD with hypo and hypo/hypercellular bone marrow and reactive lymphoid nodules in bone marrow. It can be initiated as 1st or 2nd line therapy and should be continued at least for 3 months before evaluating of response.


Blood ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 120 (21) ◽  
pp. 946-946 ◽  
Author(s):  
Girindra G Raval ◽  
Morie A Gertz ◽  
Martha Q Lacy ◽  
Suzanne R Hayman ◽  
Shaji K. Kumar ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 946 Background: The emerging therapies directed at the plasma cell clone have dramatically increased overall survival (OS) for both myeloma and amyloidosis patient populations. As more treatment trials are done in patients (pts) with AL, benchmarks for outcomes among previously treated AL pts are required, especially for those pts who are not candidates for high-dose chemotherapy with peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Inadequate information is available about the number of non-transplant pts who go on to receive second line treatment for AL amyloidosis. Methods: To ascertain the outcomes of pts who did not receive ASCT as primary therapy but who required a second line of therapy, we reviewed the experience of pts seen at Mayo Rochester between 1990 and 2010 according to an IRB approved retrospective review protocol. 1828 pts had their first Mayo visit for AL during this time period. Pts were excluded from this study for the following reasons: 571 had upfront transplant; 907 pts had received only one line of treatment for their amyloid; 91 had longstanding other associated malignancy [Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (8), lymphoma (15), CLL (6), multiple myeloma (62)]; and 93 had inadequate follow-up information. One-hundred and sixty-six pts received 2 or more lines of therapy for their AL amyloid and are the subject of these analyses. Statistical analyses were done using JMP statistical software (SAS, Carey, NC). Results: Of the 166 pts, the median age was 64 years (range 34, 84). 49% were male. Baseline organ involvement was as follows: cardiac 84/166 (50%); renal 118/166 (71); liver 23/166 (13.8%); peripheral nerves 19/166 (11.4%); and gastrointestinal 14/166(8.4%). Thirty-one percent (52/16) had both cardiac and renal involvement. Only 73 pts had cardiac biomarkers (NT pro BNP and Troponin T) done at baseline. Of these pts, 26% were stage 1, 49.3% were stage 2, and 24.6% were stage 3 according to original Mayo cardiac biomarker staging system. By inclusion criteria definition, all 166 pts received 1st and 2nd line therapies; 53 (32%) pts received 3rd line of treatment; 20 (12%) received 4th line of treatment; and 10 (6%) received 5th line of treatment. For first line therapy, the most common drugs given either singly or in combination were corticosteroid (147/166; 88.5 %), alkylator (99/166; 59.6%), IMID (34/166; 20.4 %), and bortezomib (19/166; 11.4%). The median time from diagnosis to 2nd line therapy was 10.3 months. Second line regimens received included: corticosteroid, 108/166 (65.1%); alkylator, 76/166 (45.8 %); IMID, 46/166 (27.7%); and bortezomib, 46/166 (27.8%). The median time from diagnosis to 3rd line therapy was 19.8 months. For the 53 pts who received 3rd line treatment, regimens included: corticosteroid, 41/53 (77.3%); IMIDs, 17/53 (32.1%); alkylator, 17/53 (32.1%); bortezomib, 12/53 (22.6%). The median time from diagnosis to 4th line therapy was 31.8 months. For the 20 pts receiving 4th line treatment, regimens included: corticosteroids, 15/20(75%); alkylator, 12/20 (60%), bortezomib, 7/20 (35%); and IMIDs, 4/20(20%). Eighty-three pts have died. The 1 year mortality of our study population was only 8%. The median follow-up of surviving pts was 47.6 months. Figure 1 demonstrates Kaplan-Meier estimates of overall survival (OS) from initiation of each successive therapy. The median OS from initiation of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd lines of treatment were 65, 49.5 and 36.7 months respectively. The median OS after the 4th line of treatment was not reached. The 4 year OS rates from initiation of 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th lines of therapy were 58%, 50.8 %, 50 % and 53.4% respectively. Conclusion: Outcomes among relapsed or refractory AL pts are better than what one might expect. Multiple publications have demonstrated that the 1 year mortality of newly diagnosed AL is in the vicinity of 40%. Thereafter, the rate at which pts die dramatically decreases. Our study provides explicit data characterizing the fate of pts unfortunate enough to require additional therapy but fortunate enough to survive past the exceedingly high risk period of death that occurs within 6–12 months of diagnosis. These data provide useful information for benchmarking future trials for treatments of AL amyloidosis. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (4_suppl) ◽  
pp. 641-641
Author(s):  
Kiyoshi Ishigure ◽  
Goro Nakayama ◽  
Keisuke Uehara ◽  
Hiroyuki Yokoyama ◽  
Akiharu Ishiyama ◽  
...  

641 Background: Bevacizumab provides survival benefit as the first-line and second-line therapies in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). A large observational study suggested use of bevacizumab beyond first progression (BBP) improved survival. This prompted us to conduct a multicenter phase II study of mFOLFOX6 plus bevacizumab followed by FOLFIRI plus bevacizimab in mCRC to further explore the strategy of BBP in Japanese patients. Methods: Previously untreated patients with assessable disease were treated with mFOLFOX6 plus bevacizumab until tumor progression, followed by FOLFIRI plus bevacizumab. The primary endpoint of the study was the second progression-free survival (2nd PFS), defined as duration from enrollment until progression after the second-line therapy. If the patient failed to receive the second-line treatment due to medical reasons or refusal, the PFS during the first-line therapy was used for analysis. Secondary endpoints were PFS, overall survival (OS), response rate (RR), disease control rate (DCR) and safety. Results: In the first-line therapy, 47 patients treated with mFOLFOX6 plus bevacizumab achieved RR of 61.7%, DCR of 89.4% and median PFS of 11.7 months. Thirty patients went on to receive the second-line therapy with FOLFIRI plus bevacizumab and achieved RR of 27.6%, DCR of 62.1%, and median PFS of 6.0 months. Median 2nd PFS was 16.2 months. Median survival time did not reach the median follow-up time of 27.4 months. Severe adverse events associated with bevacizumab during the first-line therapy were a venous thromboembolic event in one case (2%), a grade 2 bleeding event in one case (2%) and GI perforation in one case (2%). However, no critical events associated with bevacizumab were reported during the second-line therapy. Conclusions: The planned continuation of bevacizumab during the second line treatment is feasible in Japanese mCRC patients. A prospective randomized control study to confirm the efficacy has to be conducted in the future.


2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (4_suppl) ◽  
pp. 468-468
Author(s):  
Hui-Li Wong ◽  
Ying Wang ◽  
Yaling Yin ◽  
Hagen F. Kennecke ◽  
Winson Y. Cheung ◽  
...  

468 Background: Chemotherapy options currently available for the first-line treatment of advanced PDAC include FOLFIRINOX (FX), gemcitabine with nab-paclitaxel (GP) and single agent gemcitabine (Gem). GP was introduced most recently and funded for clinical use in British Columbia (BC) in September 2014. In this retrospective analysis, we explore the impact of GP availability on first-line treatment selection and overall survival (OS) in advanced PDAC. Methods: The BC Cancer Agency provincial pharmacy database was used to identify patients (pts) who started FX, GP or Gem between January and August 2014 (pre-GP) or January and August 2015 (post-GP). Pts were eligible for inclusion if they received at least one cycle of first-line therapy for locally advanced or metastatic PDAC. Clinical data were extracted from electronic medical records. OS was defined as time from diagnosis of advanced PDAC to death and compared by treatment era, adjusting for age, ECOG, comorbidities, disease extent and baseline CA19-9. Results: 286 pts fulfilled eligibility criteria: 88 (31%) with locally advanced and 198 (69%) with metastatic disease. 131 and 155 pts were treated in the pre- and post-GP eras respectively. Prior to GP approval, 44% and 49% of pts received Gem and FX; this decreased to 21% and 33% after GP funding, with 46% of pts receiving GP in the latter period. Nine (7%) pts received GP in the pre-GP era, either through self-pay or addition of nab-paclitaxel after approval. There were no significant differences in pt characteristics across both eras. 46% of pts who received GP post approval had ECOG ≥ 2. The proportion of pts receiving second-line therapy was lower in the post-GP era (22% vs. 38%). Median OS in the post-GP era was 8.1 vs. 10.1 months in the pre-GP era; adjusted HR 1.28 (95% CI 0.96–1.71). Pts with ECOG ≥ 2 who received GP had a median OS of 6.5 months. Conclusions: After GP was funded, it became the preferred first-line regimen for advanced PDAC. Its more frequent use instead of FX did not appear to compromise overall survival even though a substantial proportion of pts were ECOG ≥ 2 and few pts received second-line therapy.


2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (7_suppl) ◽  
pp. 581-581 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nizar M. Tannir ◽  
Robert J. Motzer ◽  
Elizabeth R. Plimack ◽  
David F. McDermott ◽  
Philippe Barthelemy ◽  
...  

581 Background: The phase 3 CheckMate 214 trial demonstrated superior efficacy for N+I vs S in aRCC, although more patients discontinued N+I compared with S due to TRAEs. This is a post hoc analysis of outcomes in pts who DC N+I or S due to TRAEs. Methods: Untreated pts with clear cell aRCC were randomized 1:1 to N 3 mg/kg + I 1 mg/kg Q3Wx4 (induction) and then N 3 mg/kg Q3W (maintenance), or S 50 mg daily for 4 wk on, 2 wk off (6-wk cycles). This analysis includes all pts who DC due to TRAEs reported during extended follow-up (≤100 d after last study dose). Results: Of 550 N+I randomized pts, 135 (25%) DC due to TRAEs, most commonly increased ALT, diarrhea, and increased AST (all 3%); 64 (12%) of 535 S randomized pts DC due to TRAEs, most commonly increased ALT, diarrhea, and pancreatitis (all 1%). In N+I pts who DC due to TRAEs, 47% DC during N+I induction, 7% completed induction but no N maintenance, and 46% completed induction and received N maintenance (median [range] 8 [1–47] doses). At 30-mo minimum follow-up, ORR per investigator, CR rate, and 24-mo OS rate were higher in pts who DC N+I vs S due to TRAEs. Outcomes in pts who DC S due to TRAEs were similar to those in all S ITT pts and worse than in N+I pts who DC due to TRAEs (Table). At 24 mo, 42% of pts who DC N+I due to TRAEs were alive and free from second-line therapy. Consistent outcomes were seen in pts who DC N+I due to TRAEs across IMDC risk groups (data to be presented). Pts who DC N+I due to TRAEs experienced more immune-related select TRAEs and received more high-dose steroids (≥40 mg prednisone daily or equiv.), but times to onset and resolution and resolution rates of select TRAEs were similar vs all treated N+I pts. Conclusions: Discontinuation of first-line N+I due to TRAEs did not result in impaired outcomes, and a high proportion of pts remain alive and free from second-line therapy. Clinical trial information: NCT02231749. [Table: see text]


2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (29_suppl) ◽  
pp. 284-284
Author(s):  
Renana Barak ◽  
Barliz Waissengrin ◽  
Ido Wolf

284 Background: A common perception of some oncologists is that the vast majority of their patients with metastatic disease will receive second-line treatment upon progression. Therefore, “saving” good treatment options for the future may be acceptable. We aimed to examine whether this perception correlates with real-life. Methods: Using an oncology electronic database, consisting of >27,000 patients treated at our institution, we selected consecutive patients with metastatic or locally advanced lung, colon, pancreatic, bile duct and gastric cancers who started standard first-line. We then assessed the correlation between proceeding to second-line therapy and demographic and clinical variables, including age, gender, initial performance status, BMI, hemoglobin, WBC, creatinine, glucose, calcium, as well as duration on first line therapy and survival. Results: A total of 492 patients met the inclusion criteria. Their median age was 67 and 285 were men. Their diagnoses were colon (169), lung (102), pancreas (101), bile duct (65) and gastric (55) cancers. Only 52% (255) received second-line treatment for at least 30 days (36% colon, 26% lung, 18% pancreas, 9% bile duct and 11% gastric). Receipt of second-line therapy was associated with disease site (P=0.001) as well as with age, with patients who received second-line being 5 years younger compared to those who did not (64 vs. 69 years, P=0.004). Patients who reached second-line had better performance status and higher hemoglobin level at presentation, additionally their median duration on first-line chemotherapy was substantially longer (P<0.007 for all comparisons). Survival of patients not starting second-line was significantly shorter across all tumor types (19.8 vs 6.5 months P=0.001). General deterioration and toxicity were the major reasons for avoiding second-line therapy at progression, 43% and 30% respectively. Conclusions: These real-life data indicate that only half of the patients starting standard doublet or triplet treatment for advanced cancers will commence second-line therapy; and this can be hardly predicted in advance using standard clinical and laboratory characteristics. Our data challenge the practice of saving good treatment options for subsequent lines, and call for the development of tools enabling prediction of response and tolerance to treatment, pursuing for better patient selection and patient-tailored therapy.


BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. e022293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason C Hsu ◽  
Chen-Fang Wei ◽  
Szu-Chun Yang

InterventionsTargeted therapies have been proven to provide clinical benefits to patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Gefitinib was initially approved and reimbursed as a third-line therapy for patients with advanced NSCLC by the Taiwan National Health Insurance (NHI) in 2004; subsequently it became a second-line therapy (in 2007) and further a first-line therapy (in 2011) for patients with epidermal growth factor receptor mutation-positive advanced NSCLC. Another targeted therapy, erlotinib, was initially approved as a third-line therapy in 2007, and it became a second-line therapy in 2008.ObjectivesThis study is aimed towards an exploration of the impacts of the Taiwan NHI reimbursement policies (removing reimbursement restrictions) related to accessibility of targeted therapies.SettingWe retrieved 2004–2013 claims data for all patients with lung cancer diagnoses from the NHI Research Database.Design and outcome measuresUsing an interrupted time series design and segmented regression, we estimated changes in the monthly prescribing rate by patient number and market shares by cost following each modification of the reimbursement policy for gefitinib and erlotinib for NSCLC treatment.ResultsTotally 92 220 patients with NSCLC were identified. The prescribing rate of the targeted therapies increased by 15.58%, decreased by 10.98% and increased by 6.31% following the introduction of gefitinib as a second-line treatment in 2007, erlotinib as a second-line treatment in 2008 and gefitinib as as first line treatment in 2011, respectively. The average time to prescription reduced by 65.84% and 41.59% following coverage of erlotinib by insurance and gefitinib/erlotinib as second-line treatments in 2007–2008 and following gefitinib as the first-line treatment in 2011.ConclusionsThe changes in reimbursement policies had a significant impact on the accessibility of targeted therapies for NSCLC treatment. Removing reimbursement restrictions can significantly increase the level and the speed of drug accessibility.


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