Claus-Christoph Steffens1, Corinna Elender2, Ulrich Hutzschenreuter3, Stephanie Dille4, Adrian Binninger5, Lisa Spring5, Martina Jänicke5, Norbert Marschner6. 1. SKH Studien GmbH, Hamburg, Germany. 2. Klinikum Dortmund, Klinik Nord Onkologie und Pneumologie, Dortmund, Germany. 3. Hämatologisch-Onkologische Gemeinschaftspraxis, Nordhorn, Germany. 4. Medical Department, iOMEDICO, Freiburg, Germany. 5. Clinical Epidemiology and Health Economics, iOMEDICO, Freiburg, Germany. 6. Praxis für interdisziplinäre Onkologie und Hämatologie, Freiburg, Germany. Electronic address: manuskript@onkologie-freiburg.de.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Despite intensive research, the therapeutic options in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC) are still limited. Data from routine clinical practice, so-called "real-world data", are centrally important to assess and improve the standard of care. We present prospectively documented data on systemic first-, second- and third-line treatment, number of treatment lines and outcome parameters of patients treated by medical oncologists in Germany. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a descriptive analysis on 432 patients with extensive-stage SCLC enrolled at start of first-line therapy into the prospective German clinical cohort study TLK (Tumour Registry Lung Cancer). Patients were recruited by 87 sites between February 2010 and December 2013 and followed-up individually for 3 years. RESULTS: The majority of patients (93%) received a first-line platinum-based combination therapy. Carboplatin plus etoposide was documented more frequently than cisplatin plus etoposide (46 vs. 35%); patients receiving carboplatin were older (68 vs. 63 years) and more often presented with poorer performance status (17 vs. 11% ECOG ≥ 2). Both regimens yielded similar response and survival rates. Median first-line overall survival (OS) was 10.2 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 8.6-12.3) for carboplatin plus etoposide and 12.2 months (95% CI 10.1-14.7) for cisplatin plus etoposide. Most patients (77%) would have been eligible for participation in a clinical trial. 50% of the patients received a second and 22% a third line of treatment. Median second-line OS was 5.8 months (95% CI 4.8-7.5), median third-line OS 5.7 months (95% CI 3.8-7.0). CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first study of prospectively documented patients with extensive-stage SCLC in routine clinical practice. We present treatment algorithms as well as outcome parameters for a large cohort in first-, second- and third-line treatment. The survival times and response rates reported in this routine setting correspond to the respective measures from large prospective trials.
OBJECTIVES: Despite intensive research, the therapeutic options in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC) are still limited. Data from routine clinical practice, so-called "real-world data", are centrally important to assess and improve the standard of care. We present prospectively documented data on systemic first-, second- and third-line treatment, number of treatment lines and outcome parameters of patients treated by medical oncologists in Germany. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a descriptive analysis on 432 patients with extensive-stage SCLC enrolled at start of first-line therapy into the prospective German clinical cohort study TLK (Tumour Registry Lung Cancer). Patients were recruited by 87 sites between February 2010 and December 2013 and followed-up individually for 3 years. RESULTS: The majority of patients (93%) received a first-line platinum-based combination therapy. Carboplatin plus etoposide was documented more frequently than cisplatin plus etoposide (46 vs. 35%); patients receiving carboplatin were older (68 vs. 63 years) and more often presented with poorer performance status (17 vs. 11% ECOG ≥ 2). Both regimens yielded similar response and survival rates. Median first-line overall survival (OS) was 10.2 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 8.6-12.3) for carboplatin plus etoposide and 12.2 months (95% CI 10.1-14.7) for cisplatin plus etoposide. Most patients (77%) would have been eligible for participation in a clinical trial. 50% of the patients received a second and 22% a third line of treatment. Median second-line OS was 5.8 months (95% CI 4.8-7.5), median third-line OS 5.7 months (95% CI 3.8-7.0). CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first study of prospectively documented patients with extensive-stage SCLC in routine clinical practice. We present treatment algorithms as well as outcome parameters for a large cohort in first-, second- and third-line treatment. The survival times and response rates reported in this routine setting correspond to the respective measures from large prospective trials.