Changing costs of metastatic non small cell lung cancer in the Netherlands

OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this study was to identify the total intramural cost of illness of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the Netherlands between 2006-2012. Secondary objective was to identify whether changes in cost patterns of metastatic NSCLC have occurred over the last years. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with metastatic NSCLC between 1-1-2006 and 31-12-2012, who had follow-up to death or the date of data cut-off and no trial participation were included. A structured chart review was performed using a case report form. Data collection started after diagnosis of metastatic NSCLC and ended at death or April first, 2015. Data regarding outpatient visits, clinical attendance, oncolytic drug use, imaging, lab tests, radiotherapy and surgery were collected. RESULTS: Sixty-seven patients were included with a median age of 67 years. The median follow-up was 234days. On average patients had 28 outpatient visits and 11 inpatient days. Oncolytic drugs were administered to 76% of the patients. Mean per patient expenditures amounted up to €17,463, with oncolytic drugs (€6,390) as the main cost driver. In comparison with the time-period of 2003-2005 total per patient per year expenses decreased by 44%. The contribution to total yearly costs of oncolytic drugs increased from 18% to 35%, while costs for inpatient stay decreased from 52% to 28% of total expenditures. CONCLUSION: Outcomes in this study demonstrate that average treatment costs for metastatic NSCLC in the Netherlands Cancer Institute amount to €17,463. Compared to a prior study the average cost for metastatic NSCLC over time in the Netherlands has decreased. A shift of main cost drivers seems to have occurred from inpatient stay, to oncolytic drugs as main contributor. The shift towards treatment cost might become more visible with the introduction of immunotherapy. These results mark the importance of up-to-date cost of illness studies

Changing costs of metastatic non small cell lung cancer in the Netherlands

OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this study was to identify the total intramural cost of illness of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the Netherlands between 2006-2012. Secondary objective was to identify whether changes in cost patterns of metastatic NSCLC have occurred over the last years. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with metastatic NSCLC between 1-1-2006 and 31-12-2012, who had follow-up to death or the date of data cut-off and no trial participation were included. A structured chart review was performed using a case report form. Data collection started after diagnosis of metastatic NSCLC and ended at death or April first, 2015. Data regarding outpatient visits, clinical attendance, oncolytic drug use, imaging, lab tests, radiotherapy and surgery were collected. RESULTS: Sixty-seven patients were included with a median age of 67 years. The median follow-up was 234days. On average patients had 28 outpatient visits and 11 inpatient days. Oncolytic drugs were administered to 76% of the patients. Mean per patient expenditures amounted up to €17,463, with oncolytic drugs (€6,390) as the main cost driver. In comparison with the time-period of 2003-2005 total per patient per year expenses decreased by 44%. The contribution to total yearly costs of oncolytic drugs increased from 18% to 35%, while costs for inpatient stay decreased from 52% to 28% of total expenditures. CONCLUSION: Outcomes in this study demonstrate that average treatment costs for metastatic NSCLC in the Netherlands Cancer Institute amount to €17,463. Compared to a prior study the average cost for metastatic NSCLC over time in the Netherlands has decreased. A shift of main cost drivers seems to have occurred from inpatient stay, to oncolytic drugs as main contributor. The shift towards treatment cost might become more visible with the introduction of immunotherapy. These results mark the importance of up-to-date cost of illness studies

Changing costs of metastatic non small cell lung cancer in the Netherlands

OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this study was to identify the total intramural cost of illness of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the Netherlands between 2006-2012. Secondary objective was to identify whether changes in cost patterns of metastatic NSCLC have occurred over the last years. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with metastatic NSCLC between 1-1-2006 and 31-12-2012, who had follow-up to death or the date of data cut-off and no trial participation were included. A structured chart review was performed using a case report form. Data collection started after diagnosis of metastatic NSCLC and ended at death or April first, 2015. Data regarding outpatient visits, clinical attendance, oncolytic drug use, imaging, lab tests, radiotherapy and surgery were collected. RESULTS: Sixty-seven patients were included with a median age of 67 years. The median follow-up was 234days. On average patients had 28 outpatient visits and 11 inpatient days. Oncolytic drugs were administered to 76% of the patients. Mean per patient expenditures amounted up to €17,463, with oncolytic drugs (€6,390) as the main cost driver. In comparison with the time-period of 2003-2005 total per patient per year expenses decreased by 44%. The contribution to total yearly costs of oncolytic drugs increased from 18% to 35%, while costs for inpatient stay decreased from 52% to 28% of total expenditures. CONCLUSION: Outcomes in this study demonstrate that average treatment costs for metastatic NSCLC in the Netherlands Cancer Institute amount to €17,463. Compared to a prior study the average cost for metastatic NSCLC over time in the Netherlands has decreased. A shift of main cost drivers seems to have occurred from inpatient stay, to oncolytic drugs as main contributor. The shift towards treatment cost might become more visible with the introduction of immunotherapy. These results mark the importance of up-to-date cost of illness studies

Development of a population pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model for various oral paclitaxel formulations co-administered with ritonavir and thrombospondin-1 based on data from early phase clinical studies.

PURPOSE: Orally administered paclitaxel offers increased patient convenience while providing a method to prolong exposure without long continuous, or repeated, intravenous infusions. The oral bioavailability of paclitaxel is improved through co-administration with ritonavir and application of a suitable pharmaceutical formulation, which addresses the dissolution-limited absorption of paclitaxel. We aimed to characterize the pharmacokinetics of different paclitaxel formulations, co-administered with ritonavir, and to investigate a pharmacodynamic relationship between low-dose metronomic (LDM) treatment with oral paclitaxel and the anti-angiogenic marker thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1). METHODS: Fifty-eight patients treated with different oral paclitaxel formulations were included for pharmacokinetic analysis. Pharmacodynamic data was available for 36 patients. All population pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modelling was performed using non-linear mixed-effects modelling. RESULTS: A pharmacokinetic model consisting of gut, liver, central, and peripheral compartments was developed for paclitaxel. The gastrointestinal absorption rate was modelled with a Weibull function. Relative gut bioavailabilities of the tablet and capsule formulations, as fractions of the gut bioavailability of the drinking solution, were estimated to be 0.97 (95%CI: 0.67-1.33) and 0.46 (95%CI: 0.34-0.61), respectively. The pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic relationship between paclitaxel and TSP-1 was modelled using a turnover model with paclitaxel plasma concentrations driving an increase in TSP-1 formation rate following an Emax relationship with an EC50 of 284 ng/mL (95%CI: 122-724). CONCLUSION: The developed pharmacokinetic model adequately described the paclitaxel plasma concentrations for the different oral formulations co-administered with ritonavir. This model, and the established pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic relationship with TSP-1, may facilitate future development of oral paclitaxel

A drug-drug interaction study to assess the effect of the CYP1A2 inhibitor fluvoxamine on the pharmacokinetics of dovitinib (TKI258) in patients with advanced solid tumors

PURPOSE: Dovitinib is an orally available multi tyrosine kinase inhibitor which inhibits VEGFR 1-3, FGFR 1-3, and PDGFR. This study was performed to investigate the potential drug-drug interaction of dovitinib with the CYP1A2 inhibitor fluvoxamine in patients with advanced solid tumors. METHODS: Non-smoking patients of ≥ 18 years with advanced solid tumors, excluding breast cancer, were included. Patients were treated with a dose of 300 mg in 5 days on/2 days off schedule. Steady-state pharmacokinetic assessments of dovitinib were performed with or without fluvoxamine. RESULTS: Forty-five patients were enrolled; 24 were evaluable for drug-drug interaction assessment. Median age was 60 years (range 30-85). At steady state the geometric mean for dovitinib (coefficient of variation%) of the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC0-72h) and maximum concentration (Cmax) were 2880 ng/mL h (47%) and 144 ng/mL (41%), respectively. Following administration of dovitinib in combination with fluvoxamine the geometric mean of dovitinib AUC0-72hand Cmaxwere 8290 ng/mL h (60%) and 259 ng/mL (45%), respectively. The estimated geometric mean ratios for dovitinib AUC0-72hand Cmax(dovitinib + fluvoxamine vs. dovitinib alone) were 2.88 [90% confidence interval (CI) 2.58, 3.20] and 1.80 (90% CI 1.66, 1.95). This effect is considered a moderate drug-drug interaction. CONCLUSIONS: Fluvoxamine co-administration resulted in a 80% increase in Cmaxand a 188% increase in AUC0-72hof dovitinib. Given the increase in exposure to dovitinib observed, patients are at risk of dovitinib related toxicity. Dovitinib should, therefore, not be co-administered with moderate and strong CYP1A2 inhibitors, without dose reduction

A drug-drug interaction study to assess the effect of the CYP1A2 inhibitor fluvoxamine on the pharmacokinetics of dovitinib (TKI258) in patients with advanced solid tumors

PURPOSE: Dovitinib is an orally available multi tyrosine kinase inhibitor which inhibits VEGFR 1-3, FGFR 1-3, and PDGFR. This study was performed to investigate the potential drug-drug interaction of dovitinib with the CYP1A2 inhibitor fluvoxamine in patients with advanced solid tumors. METHODS: Non-smoking patients of ≥ 18 years with advanced solid tumors, excluding breast cancer, were included. Patients were treated with a dose of 300 mg in 5 days on/2 days off schedule. Steady-state pharmacokinetic assessments of dovitinib were performed with or without fluvoxamine. RESULTS: Forty-five patients were enrolled; 24 were evaluable for drug-drug interaction assessment. Median age was 60 years (range 30-85). At steady state the geometric mean for dovitinib (coefficient of variation%) of the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC0-72h) and maximum concentration (Cmax) were 2880 ng/mL h (47%) and 144 ng/mL (41%), respectively. Following administration of dovitinib in combination with fluvoxamine the geometric mean of dovitinib AUC0-72hand Cmaxwere 8290 ng/mL h (60%) and 259 ng/mL (45%), respectively. The estimated geometric mean ratios for dovitinib AUC0-72hand Cmax(dovitinib + fluvoxamine vs. dovitinib alone) were 2.88 [90% confidence interval (CI) 2.58, 3.20] and 1.80 (90% CI 1.66, 1.95). This effect is considered a moderate drug-drug interaction. CONCLUSIONS: Fluvoxamine co-administration resulted in a 80% increase in Cmaxand a 188% increase in AUC0-72hof dovitinib. Given the increase in exposure to dovitinib observed, patients are at risk of dovitinib related toxicity. Dovitinib should, therefore, not be co-administered with moderate and strong CYP1A2 inhibitors, without dose reduction

A Population Pharmacokinetic Model of Oral Docetaxel Coadministered With Ritonavir to Support Early Clinical Development

Oral administration of docetaxel is an attractive alternative for conventional intravenous (IV) administration. The low bioavailability of docetaxel, however, hinders the application of oral docetaxel in the clinic. The aim of the current study was to develop a population pharmacokinetic (PK) model for docetaxel and ritonavir based on the phase 1 studies and to support drug development of this combination treatment. PK data were collected from 191 patients who received IV docetaxel and different oral docetaxel formulations (drinking solution, ModraDoc001 capsule, and ModraDoc006 tablet) coadministered with ritonavir. A PK model was first developed for ritonavir. Subsequently, a semiphysiological PK model was developed for docetaxel, which incorporated the inhibition of docetaxel metabolism by ritonavir. The uninhibited intrinsic clearance of docetaxel was estimated based on data on IV docetaxel as 1980 L/h (relative standard error, 11%). Ritonavir coadministration extensively inhibited the hepatic metabolism of docetaxel to 9.3%, which resulted in up to 12-fold higher docetaxel plasma concentrations compared to oral docetaxel coadministered without ritonavir. In conclusion, a semiphysiological PK model for docetaxel and ritonavir was successfully developed. Coadministration of ritonavir resulted in increased plasma concentrations of docetaxel after administration of the oral formulations of ModraDoc. Furthermore, the oral ModraDoc formulations showed lower variability in plasma concentrations between and within patients compared to the drinking solution. Comparable exposure could be reached with the oral ModraDoc formulations compared to IV administration

Sensorineural Hearing Loss After Adoptive Cell Immunotherapy for Melanoma Using MART-1 Specific T Cells: A Case Report and Its Pathophysiology

OBJECTIVE: To illustrate a case of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) after immunotherapy based on T cell receptor (TCR) gene therapy using modified T cells recognizing melanoma antigen recognized by T cells 1 for disseminated melanoma. PATIENT: We present a 59-year-old woman with profound subacute bilateral SNHL including unilateral deafness after immunotherapy based on TCR gene therapy using modified T cells recognizing melanoma antigen recognized by T cells 1 for disseminated melanoma. Ten days after treatment, the patient developed hearing loss of 57 dB hearing loss air conduction at pure-tone average 0.5-1-2-4 kHz in the right ear, and >100 dB hearing loss air conduction at pure-tone average 0.5-1-2-4 in the left ear. The right ear recovered partially, while the left ear remained deaf, despite oral prednisolone (1.0 mg/kg) and salvage treatment with three transtympanic injections of 0.5 ml dexamethasone (4.0 mg/ml). CONCLUSION: Based on our presented case and a vast amount of literature there is circumstantial evidence that TCR gene therapy for melanoma targets the perivascular macrophage-like melanocytes in the stria vascularis, resulting in SNHL. We suggest that SNHL after TCR gene therapy may be caused by a disruption of the blood-labyrinth-barrier and the endolymphatic potential and/or a sterile inflammation of the stria vascularis. In severe cases like our subject, we posit that endolymphatic hydrops or hair cell loss may cause irreversible and asymmetrical deafness. Steroid prophylaxis via transtympanic application is debatable

Phase 1 study of the MDM2 inhibitor AMG 232 in patients with advanced P53 wild-type solid tumors or multiple myeloma

Background This open-label, first-in-human, phase 1 study evaluated AMG 232, an oral selective MDM2 inhibitor in patients with TP53 wild-type (P53WT), advanced solid tumors or multiple myeloma (MM). Methods In the dose escalation (n = 39), patients with P53WT refractory solid tumors enrolled to receive once-daily AMG 232 (15, 30, 60, 120, 240, 480, and 960 mg) for seven days every 3 weeks (Q3W). In the dose expansion (n = 68), patients with MDM2-amplified (well-differentiated and de-differentiated liposarcomas [WDLPS and DDLPS], glioblastoma multiforme [GBM], or other solid tumors [OST]), MDM2-overexpressing ER+ breast cancer (BC), or MM received AMG 232 at the maximum tolerated dose (MTD). Safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and efficacy were assessed. Results AMG 232 had acceptable safety up to up to 240 mg. Three patients had dose-limiting toxicities of thrombocytopenia (n = 2) and neutropenia (n = 1). Due to these and other delayed cytopenias, AMG 232 240 mg Q3W was determined as the highest tolerable dose assessed in the dose expansion. Adverse events were typically mild/moderate and included diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, decreased appetite, and anemia. AMG 232 plasma concentrations increased dose proportionally. Increases in serum macrophage inhibitor cytokine-1 from baseline were generally dose dependent, indicating p53 pathway activation. Per local review, there were no responses. Stable disease (durability in months) was observed in patients with WDLPS (3.9), OST (3.3), DDLPS (2.0), GBM (1.8), and BC (1.4–2.0). Conclusions In patients with P53WT advanced solid tumors or MM, AMG 232 showed acceptable safety and dose-proportional pharmacokinetics, and stable disease was observed