First- and second-line bevacizumab in addition to chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer: a United States-based cost-effectiveness analysis

PURPOSE

The addition of bevacizumab to fluorouracil-based chemotherapy is a standard of care for previously untreated metastatic colorectal cancer. Continuation of bevacizumab beyond progression is an accepted standard of care based on a 1.4-month increase in median overall survival observed in a randomized trial. No United States-based cost-effectiveness modeling analyses are currently available addressing the use of bevacizumab in metastatic colorectal cancer. Our objective was to determine the cost effectiveness of bevacizumab in the first-line setting and when continued beyond progression from the perspective of US payers.

METHODS

We developed two Markov models to compare the cost and effectiveness of fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin with or without bevacizumab in the first-line treatment and subsequent fluorouracil, leucovorin, and irinotecan with or without bevacizumab in the second-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. Model robustness was addressed by univariable and probabilistic sensitivity analyses. Health outcomes were measured in life-years and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs).

RESULTS

Using bevacizumab in first-line therapy provided an additional 0.10 QALYs (0.14 life-years) at a cost of $59,361. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was $571,240 per QALY. Continuing bevacizumab beyond progression provided an additional 0.11 QALYs (0.16 life-years) at a cost of $39,209. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was $364,083 per QALY. In univariable sensitivity analyses, the variables with the greatest influence on the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio were bevacizumab cost, overall survival, and utility.

CONCLUSION

Bevacizumab provides minimal incremental benefit at high incremental cost per QALY in both the first- and second-line settings of metastatic colorectal cancer treatment.

Disease characteristics, patterns of care, and survival in very elderly patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

BACKGROUND

Although the combination of rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) is considered standard therapy for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), patterns of use and the impact of R-CHOP on survival in patients aged >80 years are less clear.

METHODS

The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare database was used to characterize presentation, treatment, and survival patterns in patients with DLBCL who were diagnosed between 2002 and 2009. Chi-square tests compared characteristics and initial treatments among patients with DLBCL who were aged >80 years and ≤80 years. Multivariable logistic regression models examined factors associated with treatment selection in patients aged >80 years; standard and propensity score-adjusted multivariable Cox proportional hazards models examined relationships between treatment regimen, treatment duration, and survival.

RESULTS

Among 4635 patients with DLBCL, 1156 (25%) were aged >80 years. Patients aged >80 years were less likely to receive R-CHOP and more likely to be observed or receive the combination of rituximab, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone (P<.0001 for both). Marital status, stage of disease, disease site, performance status, radiotherapy, and growth factor support were associated with initial R-CHOP in patients aged >80 years. In propensity score-matched multivariable Cox proportional hazards models examining relationships between treatment regimen and survival, R-CHOP was the only regimen found to be associated with improved overall survival (hazard ratio, 0.45; 95% confidence interval, 0.33-0.62) and lymphoma-related survival (hazard ratio, 0.58; 95% confidence interval, 0.38-0.88).

CONCLUSIONS

Although patients with DLBCL who were aged >80 years were less likely to receive R-CHOP, this regimen conferred the longest survival and should be considered for this population. Further studies are needed to characterize the impact of treatment of DLBCL on quality of life among patients in this age group.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of regorafenib for metastatic colorectal cancer

658

Background: Regorafenib was approved by the FDA in 2012 for the management of previously treated metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). It is now the standard of care in the third-line setting. Compared to placebo it improves median overall survival by 1.4 months but is associated with adverse effects and additional cost. The objective of this study was to examine the cost-effectiveness of regorafenib compared to best supportive care for patients receiving third-line treatment for mCRC. Methods: We developed a Markov model to compare the cost and effectiveness of regorafenib compared to best supportive care in the third-line treatment of mCRC based on randomized data from the CORRECT trial. Weibull models were fitted to the published overall and progression-free survival curves, and were used to extrapolate the cause-specific mortality and progression risks. Costs for administration and management of adverse events were based on Medicare reimbursement rates for hospital and physician services, and drug costs based on the Medicare average wholesale prices (all in 2014 US $). Health outcomes were measured in life years (LYs) and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Quality of life adjustments were calculated based on health utility values in the CORRECT trial and toxicity disutilities and durations were included for the most common toxicities: hand/foot syndrome, diarrhea, and hypertension. Model robustness was addressed by univariate and probabilistic sensitivity analyses (PSA). Results: In the model, regorafenib provided an additional 0.06 QALYs (0.12 LYs) at a cost of $40,373. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was $734,153/QALY. In all one-way sensitivity analyses, the ICER of regorafenib was >$550,000/QALY. The ICER of regorafenib was greater than $200,000/QALY in >99% of PSAs. Conclusions: This is the first U.S.-based cost-effectiveness analysis of regorafenib in mCRC, and our findings show that regorafenib provides minimal incremental benefit at high incremental cost per QALY. The ICER of regorafenib could be improved by use of an effective biomarker to select patients most likely to benefit, or by a lower price for payers.

Variations in Guideline-Concordant Breast Cancer Adjuvant Therapy in Rural Georgia

OBJECTIVE

To examine factors associated with guideline-concordant adjuvant therapy among breast cancer patients in a rural region of the United States and to present an advancement in quality-of-care assessment in the context of multiple treatments.

DATA SOURCES

Chart abstraction on initial therapy received by 868 women diagnosed with primary, invasive, early-stage breast cancer in a largely rural region of southwest Georgia.

STUDY DESIGN

Using multivariable logistic regression, we examined predictors of adjuvant chemo-, radiation, and hormonal therapy regimens defined as guideline-concordant according to the 2000 National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference Statement.

PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

Overall, 35.2 percent of women received guideline-concordant care for all three adjuvant therapies. Higher socioeconomic status was associated with receiving guideline-concordant care for all three adjuvant therapies jointly, and for chemotherapy. Compared with private insurance, having Medicaid was associated with guideline-concordant chemotherapy. Unmarried women were more likely to be nonconcordant for chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Increased age predicted nonconcordance for adjuvant therapies jointly, for chemotherapy, and for hormonal therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

A number of factors were independently associated with receiving guideline-concordant adjuvant therapy. Identifying and addressing factors that lead to nonconcordance may reduce disparities in treatment and survival.

US valuation of health outcomes measured using the PROMIS-29

OBJECTIVES

Health valuation studies enhance economic evaluations of treatments by estimating the value of health-related quality of life (HRQOL). The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) includes a 29-item short-form HRQOL measure, the PROMIS-29.

METHODS

To value PROMIS-29 responses on a quality-adjusted life-year scale, we conducted a national survey (N = 7557) using quota sampling based on the US 2010 Census. Based on 541 paired comparisons with over 350 responses each, pair-specific probabilities were incorporated into a weighted least-squared estimator.

RESULTS

All losses in HRQOL influenced choice; however, respondents valued losses in physical function, anxiety, depression, sleep, and pain more than those in fatigue and social functioning.

CONCLUSIONS

This article introduces a novel approach to valuing HRQOL for economic evaluations using paired comparisons and provides a tool to translate PROMIS-29 responses into quality-adjusted life-years.

Patterns of locoregional treatment for nonmetastatic breast cancer by patient and health system factors

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to examine local definitive therapy for nonmetastatic breast cancer with the Patterns of Care Breast and Prostate Cancer (POCBP) study of the National Program of Cancer Registries (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

METHODS

POCBP medical record data were re-abstracted in 7 state/regional registry systems (Georgia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Louisiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and California) to verify data quality and assess treatment patterns in the population. National Comprehensive Cancer Network clinical practice treatment guidelines were aligned with American Joint Committee on Cancer staging at diagnosis to appraise care.

RESULTS

Six thousand five hundred five of 9142 patients with registry-confirmed breast cancer were coded as having primary disease with stage 0 to IIIA tumors and were included in the study. Approximately 88% received guideline-concordant locoregional treatment. However, this outcome varied by age group: 92% of women < age 50 versus 80% of women ≥ age 70 years old received guideline care (P < 0.01). Characteristics that best discriminated receipt (no/yes) of guideline-concordant care in receiver operating curve analyses were the receipt of breast-conserving surgery (BCS) versus mastectomy (C = 0.70), patient age (C = 0.62), a greater tumor stage (C = 0.60), public insurance (C = 0.58), and the presence of at least mild comorbidity (C = 0.55). Radiation therapy (RT) after BCS was the most omitted treatment component causing nonconcordance in the study population. In multivariate regression, the effects of the treatment facility, ductal carcinoma in situ, race, and comorbidity on nonconcordant care differed by age group.

CONCLUSIONS

Patterns of underuse of standard therapies for breast cancer vary by age group and BCS use, with which there is a risk of omission of RT.

Cost effectiveness analysis of pharmacokinetically-guided 5-fluorouracil in FOLFOX chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Dosing chemotherapy based on BSA results in marked interindividual variability in drug exposure. A randomized trial showed increased OS and decreased toxicity with PK-guided compared with BSA-based 5-FU dosing in patients with mCRC. The objective of this study was to compare the cost effectiveness of PK-based 5-FU dosing with BSA-based 5-FU dosing in patients with mCRC receiving FOLFOX (5-FU, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We developed a Markov model to evaluate the cost effectiveness of PK FOLFOX compared with BSA FOLFOX. Progression risks and cause-specific mortality were extrapolated from the fitted survival models. Costs for administration and management of adverse events were estimated based on 2013 Medicare reimbursement rates and average sale prices.

RESULTS

PK FOLFOX provided 2.03 QALYs at a cost of $50,205 compared with BSA FOLFOX, which provided 1.46 QALYs at a cost of $37,173. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was $22,695 per QALY. The ICER remained < $50,000 per QALY in all univariate and multivariate sensitivity analyses.

CONCLUSION

At a $50,000 per QALY threshold, PK FOLFOX is cost effective for mCRC. Because of the cost effectiveness profile and OS advantage with PK FOLFOX, it should be evaluated further in comparative effectiveness studies.

Individual, Area, and Provider Characteristics Associated With Care Received for Stages I to III Breast Cancer in a Multistate Region of Appalachia

PURPOSE

We describe individual, area, and provider characteristics associated with care patterns for early-stage breast cancer in Appalachian counties of Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

METHODS

Cases of stages I to III breast cancer from 2006 to 2008 were linked to Medicare claims occurring within 1 year of diagnosis. Rates of guideline-concordant endocrine therapy (n = 1,429), chemotherapy (n = 1,480), and radiation therapy (RT) after breast-conserving surgery were studied; RT was studied in women age ≥ 70 years with stage I estrogen receptor (ER) -positive/progesterone receptor (PR) -positive cancer, for whom RT was optional (n = 1,108), and in all others, for whom RT was guideline concordant (n = 1,422). Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed. Independent variables included age, race, county-level economic status, state, surgeon graduation year and volume, comorbidity, diagnosis year, Medicaid/Medicare dual status, histology, tumor size, tumor sequence, positive lymph nodes, ER/PR status, stage, trastuzumab use, and surgery type.

RESULTS

Population mean age was 74 years; 97% were white. For endocrine therapy, chemotherapy, and RT, guideline concordance was 76%, 48%, and 83%, respectively. Where it was optional, 77% received RT. Guideline-concordant endocrine therapy was lower in North Carolina versus Pennsylvania (odds ratio [OR], 0.60; 95% CI, 0.41 to 0.88) and higher if surgeon graduated between 1984 and 1988 versus ≥ 1989 (OR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.06 to 2.34). Guideline-concordant chemotherapy varied significantly by state, county-level economic status, and surgeon volume. In guideline-concordant RT, lower surgeon volume (v highest) predicted RT use (OR, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.61 to 2.36). In optional RT, North Carolina residence (v Pennsylvania; OR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.17 to 0.48) and counties with higher economic status (OR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.40 to 0.94) predicated RT omission.

CONCLUSION

Notable variation in care by geographic and surgical provider characteristics provides targets for further research in underserved areas.

Obesity and guideline-concordant systemic therapy for locoregional breast cancer

145

Background: Obese breast cancer patients tend to have higher mortality than non-obese patients. Hypothesizing that differences in receipt of adequate treatment may contribute to this mortality differential, we examined whether breast cancer patients with higher body mass index (BMI) received systemic adjuvant treatment consistent with National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. Methods: Female adult stage I-III breast cancer cases diagnosed in 2004 were identified from population-based cancer registries in 7 states and supplemented with abstracted medical records. Differences in receipt of concordant treatment according to BMI were investigated using logistic regression models adjusted for age and other covariates. Results: Among all women, 57% (2,174 of 3,828) received overall guideline-concordant (GC) adjuvant systemic treatment, meaning treatment adherent in each of 3 defined domains: chemotherapy, chemotherapy regimen, and hormonal therapy. Within the domains, 82% of women received GC chemotherapy, and 93% of those received a GC regimen, and 80% received GC hormonal therapy. Women with higher BMI had greater odds of receiving GC systemic therapy (odds ratio for each 5 kg/m2 increase in BMI 1.07, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.14; p value for trend = 0.04). No significant differences in guideline treatment according to BMI were found in the individual therapy domains (adjuvant chemotherapy, p = 0.18; chemotherapy regimen, p = 0.26), although a borderline significant, nonlinear pattern was seen for hormonal therapy, in which the highest odds of GC treatment were found in the lowest and highest BMI ranges (p = 0.07 from χ2 test). Conclusions: Contrary to our hypothesis, odds of guideline concordant systemic therapy increased with higher BMI, and no significant differences were found within any specific treatment domain. Further research describing how multiple factors including treatment patterns influence outcomes for obese breast cancer patients may identify areas where changes in practice can reduce disease burden and mortality. Our research also suggests further investigation into patterns of care for underweight patients.

The state of cancer survivorship programming in Commission on Cancer-accredited hospitals in Georgia

PURPOSE

In Georgia, there are more than 356,000 cancer survivors. Although many encounter challenges as a result of treatment, there is limited data on the availability of survivorship programming. This paper highlights findings from two surveys assessing survivorship care in Commission on Cancer (CoC)-accredited hospitals in Georgia.

METHODS

In 2010, 38 CoC-accredited hospitals were approached to complete a 36-item survey exploring knowledge of national standards and use of survivorship care plans (SCPs), treatment summaries (TSs), and psychosocial assessment tools. In 2012, 37 CoC-accredited hospitals were asked to complete a similar 21-item survey.

RESULTS

Seventy-nine percent (n = 30) of cancer centers completed the 2010 survey. Sixty percent (n = 18) reported having a cancer survivorship program in place or in development. Forty-three percent (n = 13) provided survivors with a SCP and 40% (n = 12) a TS. Sixty percent (n = 18) reported either never or rarely using a psychosocial assessment tool. Sixty-two percent (n = 23) completed the 2012 survey. Ninety-six percent (n = 22) were aware of the new CoC guideline 3.3. Thirty-nine percent (n = 9) provided a SCP and/or TS. Eighty-seven percent (n = 20) stated they were very confident or somewhat confident their organization could implement a SCP and/or TS by 2015.

CONCLUSIONS

The data indicated the importance of collaboration and shared responsibility for survivorship care. Broad implementation of SCPs and TSs can help address the late and long-term effects of treatment.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS

Increasing knowledge on survivorship care is imperative as the Georgia oncology community engages oncologists and primary care providers to achieve higher quality of life for all survivors.

Assessing needs and assets for building a regional network infrastructure to reduce cancer related health disparities

Significant cancer health disparities exist in the United States and Puerto Rico. While numerous initiatives have been implemented to reduce cancer disparities, regional coordination of these efforts between institutions is often limited. To address cancer health disparities nation-wide, a series of regional transdisciplinary networks through the Geographic Management Program (GMaP) and the Minority Biospecimen/Biobanking Geographic Management Program (BMaP) were established in six regions across the country. This paper describes the development of the Region 3 GMaP/BMaP network composed of over 100 investigators from nine institutions in five Southeastern states and Puerto Rico to develop a state-of-the-art network for cancer health disparities research and training. We describe a series of partnership activities that led to the formation of the infrastructure for this network, recount the participatory processes utilized to develop and implement a needs and assets assessment and implementation plan, and describe our approach to data collection. Completion, by all nine institutions, of the needs and assets assessment resulted in several beneficial outcomes for Region 3 GMaP/BMaP. This network entails ongoing commitment from the institutions and institutional leaders, continuous participatory and engagement activities, and effective coordination and communication centered on team science goals.

Improving outcomes in breast cancer: where should we target our efforts?

Rural-urban differences in health outcomes, including breast cancer, in the US have been studied for decades, but often with inconsistent findings. Possible reasons include methodological differences, lack of prospective investigations, small number of studies overall, and the tendency to measure rurality as a simple patient-level predictor variable. Studies have tended to assume that the same racial/ethnic cancer disparities found in the general population exist in rural regions, but this conclusion may not always be warranted. Needed are better definitions of rurality; the capability to define important predictor variables such as race, ethnicity, education, and income with greater precision than at present; and data revealing the patient's own perspective regarding care decisions. Future studies should examine whether the impact of rurality status on outcomes varies with geographic location by including the appropriate interaction terms in the outcome prediction models, as well as patient-reported reasons that might explain the outcomes observed.

Survival outcomes in patients with early stage, resected pancreatic cancer - a comparison of gemcitabine- and 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy and chemoradiation regimens

PURPOSE

We conducted a comparative survival analysis between patients with resected pancreatic cancer who received adjuvant treatment with either gemcitabine- or 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy and chemoradiation regimens.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER)-Medicare database was used to identify patients with pancreatic cancer diagnosed from 1998 to 2005 who received curative surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy with either 5-fluorouracil or gemcitabine. These groups were subdivided by treatment with radiotherapy. Patients were followed until death, study end-point or a maximum of 5 years after diagnosis.

RESULTS

Three hundred and fifty-nine patients received 5-fluorouracil and 346 received gemcitabine. Compared with chemoradiation with 5-fluorouracil, outcomes for patients who received chemoradiation with gemcitabine did not differ. Patients who received gemcitabine without radiation had increased hazards (poorly differentiated tumours: HR = 1.50, p = 0.01; moderately differentiated tumours, HR = 1.28, p = 0.11). However, outcomes of patients who received 5-fluorouracil without radiation varied with tumour grade. In moderately differentiated tumours, patients had better outcomes with 5-fluorouracil when compared with chemoradiation with 5-fluorouracil (HR = 0.42, p = 0.02). In poorly differentiated tumours, the opposite was true (HR 2.10, p = 0.09).

CONCLUSION

Patients with low-grade resected pancreatic cancer may have better outcomes with 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy without radiation when compared with 5-fluorouracil with radiation.

The influence of radiation therapy dose escalation on overall survival in unresectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma

PURPOSE

Radiation therapy (RT) dose escalation in unresectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAC) remains investigational. We examined the association between total RT dose and overall survival (OS) in patients with unresectable PAC.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

National cancer data base (NCDB) data were obtained for patients who underwent definitive chemotherapy and RT (chemo-RT) for unresectable PAC. Univariate (UV) and multivariate (MV) survival analysis were performed along with Kaplan-Meier (KM) estimates for incremental RT dose levels.

RESULTS

A total of 977 analyzable patients met inclusion criteria. Median tumor size was 4.0 cm (0.3-40 cm) and median RT dose was 45 Gy. Median OS was 10 months (95% CI, 9-10 months). On MV analysis RT dose <30 Gy [HR, 2.38 (95% CI, 1.85-3.07); P<0.001] and RT dose ≥30 to <40 Gy [HR, 1.41 (95% CI, 1.04-1.91); P=0.026] were associated with lower OS when compared with dose ≥55 Gy. Patients receiving RT doses from 40 to <45, 45 to <50, 50 to <55, and ≥55 Gy did not differ in OS.

CONCLUSIONS

Lack of benefit to OS with conventionally delivered RT above 40 Gy is shown. Optimal RT dose escalation methods in unresectable PAC remain an important subject for investigation in prospective clinical trials.