Potential cost savings by dose down-rounding of monoclonal antibodies in a community cancer center.

Purpose Increasing new cancer cases and approval of effective but expensive new drugs extending survival have led to unsustainable cancer care costs. Potential cost savings by a hypothetical dose down-rounding project of monoclonal antibodies at a community-based cancer center is presented. Methods From October 2014 through October 2015, metastatic cancer patients receiving monoclonal antibodies at CHI-Health St Francis Cancer Treatment Center in Grand Island, Nebraska, were identified through electronic health records. A total of 11 different types of monoclonal antibodies that were administered during the study period were identified. Trastuzumab, ofatumumab, and obinutuzumab did not require dose-rounding; thus, they were excluded from the analyses. Available vial size(s) and costs per milligram per average wholesale price for each monoclonal antibody were recorded. Costs of actual amounts prescribed were compared to the costs of theoretically reduced ≤5% and ≤10% doses rounded to the nearest vial sizes. Reduced doses resulting in a decreased number of opened vials qualified for meaningful dose down-rounding and were included in the analysis. Average actual dose reduction percentage resulting in cost savings for both groups was also calculated. Results A total of 728 doses of eight monoclonal antibodies suitable for dose down-rounding were identified. Vial sizes of pembrolizumab and ipilimumab did not allow for a meaningful dose down-rounding. At the ≤5% dose down-rounding, 255 of 728 doses (35%) qualified with a potential annual cost savings of $220,793.80. At the ≤10% dose down-rounding, 526 of 728 doses (72%) qualified with a potential annual cost savings of $454,461.00. The average actual dose reduction was 2.4% for the ≤5% dose reduction group and 4.9% for the ≤10% dose reduction group. Overall average cost savings per qualifying dose reduction was around $865.00. More doses qualified for cost savings in the ≤10% dose reduction group. Significant differences between different monoclonal antibodies for dose rounding at either ≤5% (p = 0.002) or ≤10% (p < 0.001) were observed. Conclusion A practical dose down-rounding procedure may allow significant cost reduction in metastatic cancer setting, where the cure is not the goal. Drug waste can be avoided by convenient vial sizes or can even be eliminated by lyophilized forms like in trastuzumab. Our data reflect the monoclonal antibody use and potential cost savings with the proposed dose down-rounding approach in a community-based cancer program.

What Is the Optimal Dose and Schedule for Dasatinib in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia: Two Case Reports and Review of the Literature.

Efficacy and safety of dasatinib in chronic phase (CP) chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) patients has been well established. Initially approved dose and schedule of 70 mg twice daily has been changed to 100 mg once daily after demonstration of the same efficacy with less toxicity. Some patients require significant dose reductions to enable continued treatment with dasatinib. Even at a dose of 80 mg once daily, several patients may require further dose reductions due to substantial toxicity while maintaining good control of their disease. We report two CP-CML patients achieving and maintaining major molecular responses while on very low doses of dasatinib, ultimately achieving undetectable levels of BCR-ABL fusion transcript in their peripheral blood. Observations of several CP-CML cases responding remarkably well to dasatinib despite very low dose and frequent dose interruptions challenge our current understanding and the accuracy of the data regarding the optimum dose and schedule of this drug. In selected intolerant patients, low-dose dasatinib therapy may be a safe and effective alternative treatment option before a treatment discontinuation or change considered.

Impact of the National Cancer Institute Community Cancer Centers Program on Clinical Trial and Related Activities at a Community Cancer Center in Rural Nebraska.

PURPOSE: Although 85% of patients with cancer are diagnosed and treated in the community setting, only 3% are enrolled onto clinical trials. Lack of adequate time, infrastructure, resources, incentives, and reimbursement adversely affect clinical trial participation. In July 2007, Saint Francis Cancer Treatment Center (SFCTC) in Grand Island, Nebraska, was selected as one of the initial 16 sites for the National Cancer Institute Community Cancer Centers Program (NCCCP). METHODS: Clinical trial and related activities data at SFCTC 5 years before and 5 years during the NCCCP were gathered and compared. Data included information on patients in clinical trials, number and type of trials, ratio of underserved patients, staffing, collection and storage of tissue samples, availability of new cancer services, and organizational infrastructure and linkage to National Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers. RESULTS: The number and percentage of patients enrolled onto clinical trials increased from 89 (3.2%) to 640 (23%; P<.001). All enrollees were rural Nebraskans, with 70%age > 65 years. Available treatment and nontreatment (eg, prevention, biospecimen,cancer control) trials increased from eight and three per year to 28 and 12 per year (P=.012), respectively. Staffing increased from 1.2 to 3.9 full-time equivalents (P=.012). A genetic counselor, smoking cessation counselor, and outreach project coordinator and two nurse navigators were hired. The number of tissue samples collected and/or stored increased from 26 (19%) to 320 (52%; P<.001). CONCLUSION: NCCCP participation had a direct and positive impact on all activities, with enhanced access to expanded types of trials and cancer care services. Our data demonstrate the feasibility of successful implementation of an expanded spectrum of clinical trials and programs in a rural community.

Radiation Recall Pneumonitis During Systemic Treatment With Everolimus.

Radiation recall syndrome is an acute inflammatory reaction developing at anatomical sites of previously irradiated tissue, weeks to months after the completion of radiation therapy. The distribution pattern of inflammation typically involves, and remains limited to, the boundaries of prior radiation treatment fields. Several classical chemotherapy drugs have been reported to have the potential for causing radiation recall syndrome. With the increasing availability and expanding use of novel biologic and targeted therapy anticancer drugs, isolated reports of radiation recall syndrome secondary to this class of agents are starting to appear in the literature. We describe a case of everolimus-induced radiation recall pneumonitis in a patient with metastatic renal cell cancer.

Full clinical recovery after topical acyclovir treatment of Epstein-Barr virus associated cutaneous B-cell lymphoma in patient with mycosis fungoides.

Primary cutaneous T- and B-cell lymphomas are a heterogeneous group of diseases with varied clinical presentations and prognosis. The use of new molecular, histological, and clinical criteria has improved their recognition. Cutaneous B-cell and T-cell lymphomas are seldom found together in the same patient. Here we report a rare case of mycosis fungoides variant of a cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) which later developed Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) associated cutaneous B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder. The patient initially presented with generalized erythroderma, extensive plaques, and axillary lymphadenopathy. Histopathology and immunophenotyping of her tumor from the right breast nodule revealed a T-cell lymphoma consistent with mycosis fungoides. She was initially treated with pentostatin, followed by topical mechlorethamine and topical steroids. After progression of her mycosis fungoides with worsening diffuse skin lesions on this regimen, her treatments were changed to oral bexarotene with an initial partial response followed by stable disease. Three years from her initial presentation, she developed ulcerated cauliflower-like nodules on her forehead. Biopsy of these lesions revealed EBV-positive large- and medium-sized pleomorphic B-cells consistent with EBV-driven B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder. She was treated with topical acyclovir cream on the involved skin areas while continuing with oral bexarotene for mycosis fungoides. Skin lesions gradually diminished and totally disappeared after four weeks of topical acyclovir treatment. Bexarotene treatment was continued for another year until the mycosis fungoides progressed and became wide spread causing her death four and a half years after the initial diagnosis. The coexistence of two cutaneous non-Hodgkin lymphomas of different lineage in the same patient and the complete clinical response of EBV-related B-cell cutaneous component to topical acyclovir makes this rare case particularly interesting.