Second-line treatment of stage III/IV non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with pemetrexed in routine clinical practice: evaluation of performance status and health-related quality of life

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Community- and Choice-Based Health State Utility Values for Lung Cancer

BACKGROUND

Using appropriate health state utility values (HSUVs) is critical for economic evaluation of new lung cancer interventions, such as low-dose computed tomography screening and immunotherapy. Therefore, we provide a systematic review and meta-analysis of community- and choice-based HSUVs for lung cancer.

METHODS

On 6 March 2017, we conducted a systematic search of the following databases: Embase, Ovid MEDLINE, Web of Science, Cochrane CENTRAL, Google Scholar, and the School of Health and Related Research Health Utility Database. The search was updated on 17 April 2019. Studies reporting mean or median lung cancer-specific HSUVs including a measure of variance were included and assessed for relevance and validity. Studies with high relevance (i.e. community- and choice-based) were further analysed. Mean HSUVs were pooled using random-effects models for all stages, stages I-II, and stages III-IV. For studies with a control group, we calculated the disutility due to lung cancer. A sensitivity analysis included only the methodologically most comparable studies (i.e. using the EQ-5D instrument and matching tariff). Subgroup analyses were conducted by time to death, histology, sex, age, treatment modality, treatment line, and progression status.

RESULTS

We identified and analysed 27 studies of high relevance. The pooled HSUV was 0.68 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.61-0.75) for all stages, 0.78 (95% CI 0.70-0.86) for stages I-II, and 0.69 (95% CI 0.65-0.73) for stages III-IV (p = 0.02 vs. stage I-II). Heterogeneity was present in each pooled analysis (p < 0.01; I2 = 92-99%). Disutility due to lung cancer ranged from 0.11 (95% CI 0.05-0.17) to 0.27 (95% CI 0.18-0.36). In the sensitivity analysis with the methodologically most comparable studies, stage-specific HSUVs varied by country. Such studies were only identified for Canada, China, Spain, the UK, the USA, Denmark, Germany, and Thailand. In the subgroup analysis by time to death, HSUVs for metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer ranged from 0.83 (95% CI 0.82-0.85) at ≥ 360 days from death to 0.56 (95% CI 0.46-0.66) at < 30 days from death. Among patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer, HSUVs were lower for those receiving third- or fourth-line treatment and for those with progressed disease. Results of subgroup analyses by histology, sex, age, and treatment modality were ambiguous.

CONCLUSIONS

The presented evidence supports the use of stage- and country-specific HSUVs. However, such HSUVs are unavailable for most countries. Therefore, our pooled HSUVs may provide the best available stage-specific HSUVs for most countries. For metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer, adjusting for the decreased HSUVs in the last year of life may be considered, as may further stratification of HSUVs by treatment line or progression status. If required, HSUVs for other health states may be identified using our comprehensive breakdown of study characteristics.

Systematic review of health state utility values in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer with a focus on previously treated patients

BACKGROUND

Health state utility values (HSUVs) are an important input to economic evaluations and the choice of HSUV can affect the estimate of relative cost-effectiveness between interventions. This systematic review identified utility scores for patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC), as well as disutilities or utility decrements relevant to the experience of patients with mNSCLC, by treatment line and health state.

METHODS

The MEDLINE®, Embase and Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched (September 2016) for publications describing HSUVs in mNSCLC in any treatment line. The EQ-5D website, the School of Health and Related Research Health Utilities Database (ScHARRHUD) and major pharmacoeconomic and clinical conferences in 2015-2016 were also queried. Studies in adults with previously treated mNSCLC were selected for further analysis. The information extracted included study design, description of treatment and health state, respondent details, instrument and tariff, HSUV or (dis) utility decrement estimates, quality of study, and appropriateness for use in economic evaluations.

RESULTS

Of 1883 references identified, 36 publications of 34 studies were included: 19 reported EQ-5D scores; eight reported HSUVs from valuations of vignettes made by members of the public using standard gamble (SG) or time trade-off (TTO); two reported SG or TTO directly elicited from patients; two reported EQ-5D visual analogue scale scores only; one reported Assessment of Quality of Life instrument scores; one reported HSUVs for caregivers to patients with mNSCLC using the 12-item Short-Form Health Survey; and one estimated HSUVs based on expert opinion. The range of HSUVs identified for comparable health states showed how differences in study type, tariff, health state and the measures used can drive variation in HSUV estimates.

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review provides a set of published HSUVs that are relevant to the experience of adult patients previously treated for mNSCLC. Our review begins to address the challenge of identifying reliable estimates of utility values in mNSCLC that are suitable for use in economic evaluations, and also highlights how varying estimates result from differences in methodology.

Health state utilities in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer in China

AIM

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a leading global health threat that impairs patient health outcomes. Health state utilities are fundamental values in economic evaluation and significantly vary across countries. Given the scarce data on the Chinese population, the current study measured utility values in the Chinese patients with NSCLC.

METHODS

This study was conducted as a cross-sectional survey of patients with advanced NSCLC at the Shanghai Chest Hospital. Utility values were assessed using the EuroQol five-dimension (EQ-5D) instrument and scored based on the Chinese-specific value algorithm. Predictors of utility values were examined using a subgroup analysis and a multiple regression model.

RESULTS

The mean EQ-5D utility value of recruited patients was 0.814. The regression analysis revealed that tumor stage, treatment regimen and line of therapy were the potential predictors of utility values.

CONCLUSION

This study provides the Chinese-specific health utility data for advanced NSCLC using the EQ-5D.

Dexamethasone alleviates pemetrexed-induced senescence in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Pemetrexed (PEM) is a novel and multi-targeted antifolate used as an antineoplastic agent for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and pleural mesothelioma. Although glucocorticoid was often used with PEM to reduce toxicity during the chemotherapy, it is not clear yet whether glucocorticoid co-administration could affect PEM efficacy in NSCLC. Here we established NSCLC cell lines and examined the effects of dexamethasone (DEX) on PEM sensitivity in vitro and in xenograft models. DEX co-administration reduced chemotherapy sensitivity to PEM in xenograft models. DEX co-administration promoted cell growth and weakened senescence growth arrest, such as altered secretions of proinflammatory and mitogenic cytokines, reminiscent of a senescence associate secretory phenotype (SASP). CSCs in DEX co-administration group were subsequently found to be less sensitive towards PEM treatment as measured by cell proliferation and generation of tumor spheres in the presence of PEM. Survival molecule B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) may involve in this process and blockage of Bcl-2 could reverse altered senescence and CSCs abilities, thus alleviated PEM insensitivity. As such, DEX might suppress the antitumor activity of PEM through altered SASP level that had induced traits similar to CSCs.

Utility values associated with advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer: data needs for economic modeling

INTRODUCTION

Cost-effectiveness analyses often inform healthcare reimbursement decisions. The preferred measure of effectiveness is the quality adjusted life year (QALY) gained, where the quality of life adjustment is measured in terms of utility. Areas covered: We assessed the availability and variation of utility values for health states associated with advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to identify values appropriate for cost-effectiveness models assessing alternative treatments. Our systematic search of six electronic databases (January 2000 to August 2015) found the current literature to be sparse in terms of utility values associated with NSCLC, identifying 27 studies. Utility values were most frequently reported over time and by treatment type, and less frequently by disease response, stage of disease, adverse events or disease comorbidities. Expert commentary: In response to rising healthcare costs, payers increasingly consider the cost-effectiveness of novel treatments in reimbursement decisions, especially in oncology. As the number of therapies available to treat NSCLC increases, cost-effectiveness analyses will play a key role in reimbursement decisions in this area. Quantifying the relationship between health and quality of life for NSCLC patients via utility values is an important component of assessing the cost effectiveness of novel treatments.

The facilitating role of chemotherapy in the palliative phase of cancer: qualitative interviews with advanced cancer patients

Objective

To explore the extent to which patients have a directing role in decisions about chemotherapy in the palliative phase of cancer and (want to) anticipate on the last stage of life.

Design

Qualitative interview study.

Methods

In depth-interviews with 15 patients with advanced colorectal or breast cancer at the medical oncology department in a Dutch teaching hospital; interviews were analysed following the principles of thematic content-analysis.

Results

All patients reported to know that the chemotherapy they received was with palliative intent. Most of them did not express the wish for information about (other) treatment options and put great trust in their physicians’ treatment advice. The more patients were aware of the severity of their disease, the more they seemed to ‘live their life’ in the present and enjoy things besides having cancer. Such living in the present seemed to be facilitated by the use of chemotherapy. Patients often considered the ‘chemotherapy-free period’ more stressful than periods when receiving chemotherapy despite their generally improved physical condition. Chemotherapy (regardless of side-effects) seemed to shift patients’ attention away from the approaching last stage of life. Interestingly, although patients often discussed advance care planning, they were reluctant to bring on end-of-life issues that bothered them at that specific moment. Expressing real interest in people ‘as a person’ was considered an important element of appropriate care.

Conclusions

Fearing their approaching death, patients deliberately focus on living in the present. Active (chemotherapy) treatment facilitates this focus, regardless of the perceived side-effects. However, if anxiety for what lies ahead is the underlying reason for treatment, efforts should be made in assisting patients to find other ways to cope with this fear. Simultaneously, such an approach may reduce the use of burdensome and sometimes costly treatment in the last stage of life.

A cross-country review of data collected on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients in cancer registries, databases, retrospective and non-randomized prospective studies

INTRODUCTION

An increased number of pharmacotherapies exist to treat advanced NSCLC. This necessitates a review of the available information on routine-care treatment patterns, the outcome of treatment, and resource utilization for patients diagnosed and treated with advanced NSCLC that could inform evidence-based treatment decisions and aid decisions on the most cost-effective treatment alternatives.

METHODS

PubMed and the Health Economic Evaluations Database were searched for retrospective or non-randomized prospective studies between January 2000 and May 2012 that included information on treatment patterns, treatment outcomes including health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL), and resource utilization. In addition, registries and databases were identified from retrieved publications and internet searches. Data collected in registries and databases was summarized for eight European countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Turkey, the Netherlands, the UK), Australia, and Canada.

RESULTS

The literature search resulted in 410 studies, whereof 87 studies met the study inclusion criteria. In total, 49 were retrospective chart reviews or database analyses, 30 non-randomized prospective studies, and eight HRQoL studies. Two studies compared treatment patterns and/or treatment outcomes across countries. Altogether, 181 cancer registries in the countries studied were identified. Clinical cancer-specific patient registries were identified in Australia and Germany. Databases or linkage systems that enable retrieval of complete information of patient disease history were found in Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the UK. Cancer registries and databases were found to collect information on NSCLC patient demographics, NSCLC or lung cancer diagnosis, disease stage, performance status, treatment, treatment outcomes, and resource use. Differences existed between country registries and databases in whether information was collected on each of these data points.

CONCLUSION

The literature review revealed few published NSCLC studies on treatment, treatment outcomes, and resource use in routine clinical practice and on HRQoL. Registries and databases were found to collect some of this information, however not systematically.

Northampton outcome for first and second line chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer: 5 years data

AIM OF THE STUDY

There is a definite improvement of progression-free survival as well as overall survival in treating patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with second line chemotherapy. We reviewed the use of chemotherapy in the first and second line setting at Northampton Oncology Centre with emphasis on the survival benefit. The goal of this retrospective study was to review our clinical practice in delivering multiple lines of therapy in comparison to published data worldwide.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Data were collected from patients' records and the oncology database in Northampton Oncology Centre for patients with non-small cell lung cancer patients. A total of 156 patients' records were studied.

RESULTS

Out of 156 cases, 108 (69.23%) received first line chemotherapy and 48 (30.77%) received second line chemotherapy. Average survival in the first line group was 395 days (13 months) and in the second line group it was 580 days (19 months). There was a difference of 6.1 months (p = 0.04). Also in the first group average time to progression was 8.5 months and in the second group it was 10.5 months, a difference of nearly two months.

CONCLUSIONS

Although we have improved the survival of patients who have metastatic NSCLC with our first line treatments, the rate of recurrence and mortality remains high. Second line chemotherapy should be offered in a selected group of patients.

Efficacy assessment of pemetrexed treatment of an NSCLC case with brain metastasis

Non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) are among the most common malignancies. Although pemetrexed is often used clinically to cure cancers, its efficacy in NSCLC patients with progressive brain metastases remains unclear. Here, we report a successful NSCLC (adenocarcinoma) case treated with pemetrexed. The detected tumors were treated with 900 mg of pemetrexed disodium (500 mg/m(2)) was administered to the patient on day 1, and 40 mg of cisplatin (25mg/m(2)) was administered on days 1-3, at the interval of 3 weeks. After two cycles of chemotherapy, the brain metastases were reduced. The lesion in the lung was reduced as determined by chest CT-scan. Our results suggest that pemetrexed is an effective therapy for patients with NSCLC and progressive brain metastases.