Use of Hematopoietic Growth Factors in Elderly Lung Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy: A SEER-Medicare-based Study

Economic burden of chemotherapy-treated recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck in France: real-world data from the permanent sample of national health insurance beneficiaries

Aims: Overall survival (OS) of patients with recurrent or metastatic (R/M) squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) is extremely poor. New therapeutic options emerge but need to establish their economic value. The objective was to describe the direct and related costs of R/M SCCHN in France. Materials and methods: We selected all adult patients treated with chemotherapy for R/M SCCHN between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2014 from the permanent sample of the French national health insurance database (EGB). Data were analyzed from the index date (first chemotherapy) until patients' death or 31 December 2015. "Treatment period" and "end-of-life" (EoL) (from last chemotherapy until death) were distinguished. Costs included all hospitalizations for SCCHN and ambulatory care. Costs of hospitalized and non-hospitalized adverse events (AEs) were estimated. Results: Among 267 patients identified, 85% were men, 44% had metastases at the index date and the mean age was 62.0 years (±9.9). The most common tumor location was oropharynx (29%) but 39% of patients had multiple locations. Median OS was 9.3 (95% CI: 7.9-11.8) months for the overall population. The average total direct cost per patient was €49,954, broken down into €32,908 (95% CI: 29,525-36,290) for hospitalizations and €17,047 (14,941-19,152) for ambulatory care. Main cost drivers were drug acquisition and administration (€14,538) during the treatment period (209 days on average) and palliative care (€3,750) during the EoL period (125 days). Regarding related costs, around 12% of patients received disability pensions (€1,397 per patient [624-2,171]) and sick leave payments (€1,592 [888-2,297]). "Metabolism and nutrition disorders" and "Infections and infestations" were the most expensive hospitalized AEs (€1,513 and €1,180 per patient, respectively). Febrile neutropenia was the most expensive non-hospitalized AE (€766 per patient). Conclusions: This analysis of real-world data confirms the poor prognosis of patients with R/M SCCHN and provides cost data for future economic evaluations.

Comparison of clinical characteristics and overall survival between spirometrically diagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and non-COPD never-smoking stage I-IV non-small cell lung cancer patients

Objectives: A significant proportion of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients are never-smokers. However, the clinical impact of spirometrically diagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on the prognosis of never-smoking NSCLC has not been evaluated in the context of treatment modalities and other cancer-related factors. In the present study, we evaluated the clinical impact of COPD in non-smoking NSCLC patients, and correlations between COPD and other previously unevaluated clinical variables.

Materials and methods: Lung cancer patients (stages I to IV) diagnosed with NSCLC between January 2008 and December 2015 at six university hospitals were enrolled in the study cohort and retrospectively evaluated. Clinical parameters were compared between spirometrically diagnosed COPD and non-COPD groups. Correlations between COPD status and other variables were evaluated. In order to reduce the effect of potential confounders and selection bias, we performed adjustment for differences in baseline parameters by using propensity score matching (PSM). After PSM, clinical variables were evaluated for their effects on overall survival (OS).

Results: Of the 345 patients enrolled in the study, 277 were categorized as non-COPD and 68 as COPD. Old age, male gender, and wild-type EGFR were significantly correlated with COPD. By univariate analysis of 218 patients in a propensity score matched cohort, not receiving active anticancer treatment, advanced stage, and COPD were significantly associated with shorter OS. Multivariate analysis showed that not receiving active anticancer treatment, advanced cancer stage, and COPD (P=0.044, HR: 1.526, 95% CI: 1.012–2.300) were significant predictors of shorter OS.

Conclusion: In the present study, never-smoker NSCLC patients with COPD had shorter OS times, compared to non-COPD never-smoker NSCLC patients.

Medication overuse in oncology: current trends and future implications for patients and society

The high cost of cancer care worldwide is largely attributable to rising drugs prices. Despite their high costs and potential toxic effects, anticancer treatments could be subject to overuse, which is defined as the provision of medical services that are more likely to harm than to benefit a patient. We found 30 studies documenting medication overuse in cancer, which included 16 examples of supportive medication overuse and 17 examples of antineoplastic medication overuse in oncology. Few specific agents have been assessed, and no studies investigated overuse of the most toxic or expensive medications currently used in cancer treatment. Although financial, psychological, or physical harms of medication overuse in cancer could be substantial, there is little published evidence addressing these harms, so their magnitude is unclear. Further research is needed to better quantify medication overuse, understand its implications, and help protect patients and the health-care system from overuse.

Associations between hematopoietic growth factors and risks of venous thromboembolism, stroke, ischemic heart disease and myelodysplastic syndrome: findings from a large population-based cohort of women with breast cancer

PURPOSE

To determine the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), stroke, ischemic heart disease, and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) in association with the receipt of colony-stimulating factors (CSFs) and/or erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) in women with breast cancer.

METHODS

We studied 77,233 women with breast cancer aged ≥65 in 1992-2009 from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare linked data with up to 19 years of follow-up.

RESULTS

Incidence of VTE increased from 9 cases in women receiving no chemotherapy and no CSFs/ESAs to 22.79 cases per 1,000 person-years in those receiving chemotherapy with CSFs and ESAs. Women with chemotherapy who received both CSFs and ESAs (adjusted hazard ratio and 95 % confidence interval 2.01, 1.80-2.25) or received ESAs without CSFs (2.03, 1.74-2.36) were twice as likely to develop VTE than those receiving no chemotherapy and no CSFs/ESAs, whereas those receiving CSF alone without ESA were 64 % more likely to have VTE (1.64, 1.45-1.85). Risk of MDS was significantly increased by fivefold in patients receiving ESA following chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Receipts of CSFs and ESAs were significantly associated with an increased risk of VTE in women with breast cancer. Use of ESAs was significantly associated with substantially increased risks of MDS. These findings support those of previous studies.

Risks of Venous Thromboembolism, Stroke, Heart Disease, and Myelodysplastic Syndrome Associated With Hematopoietic Growth Factors in a Large Population-Based Cohort of Patients With Colorectal Cancer

PURPOSE

To determine the relationship between the receipt of colony-stimulating factors (CSFs) with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) and the risk of developing venous thromboembolism (VTE), stroke, heart disease, and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) in patients with colorectal cancer.

METHODS

We studied 80,925 patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer at age ≥ 65 years in 1992-2009 from the nationwide 16 areas of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare linked data. Cumulative incidence and the time to events Cox hazard regressions were used to explore the risks of outcomes in association with the receipt of CSFs and ESAs.

RESULTS

Patients who received chemotherapy (CT) with both CSF and ESA were 58% more likely to develop VTE than those who received CT without CSF and ESA (hazard ratio, 1.58; 95% confidence interval, 1.43-1.76). The risk of stroke appeared to be not associated with the use of CSF and ESA, whereas the risk of heart disease was only significantly elevated in those patients who did not receive CT but received ESA. The risk of acute myeloid leukemia or MDS was significantly increased 4- to 9-fold in patients who received ESA, regardless of receipt of CT or CSF.

CONCLUSION

The use of ESAs was significantly associated with a substantially increased risk of MDS in patients with colorectal cancer. The use of CSFs and ESAs was also significantly associated with a moderately increased risk of VTE and a slightly elevated risk of heart disease.