Comparative Study of Different Classification Models in Renal-Cell Carcinoma.

The aim of this study was to compare the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) and the Cleveland Clinic Foundation (CCF) models of classification of aRCC patients. In addition, the model developed from the pivotal trial of temsirolimus and those proposed by Motzer et al. in 2004, Escudier et al., Heng et al., Choueiri et al. and Bamias et al. were examined. An observational, retrospective study of patients starting first-line systemic therapy was conducted between 2008 and 2011. The variables used to evaluate the classification models were median overall survival (mOS) and median progression-free survival (mPFS). The comparison of different classification models was performed by comparing the area under the ROC (Receiver Operating Characteristic) curve (AUC) for time-dependent variables proposed by Heagerty. Eighty-eight patients were included. When the different models were compared, it was found that although based on the mOS, the Escudier model had better short-term (1-year) prognostic value, followed by the Heng model; in the long term, the models that presented a higher prognosis capacity were the Hudes and CCF models, closely followed by the Heng model. In addition, the Heng model had a slightly higher predictive ability than the other models. Based on the results, and in line with the European society for medical oncology (ESMO) guidelines, it appears that the model of Heng could be the best model to classify patients with aRCC and combines good short- and long-term prognostics while possessing better predictive ability and a more equal distribution of patients.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of the bevacizumab-irinotecan regimen in the treatment of primary glioblastoma multiforme recurrences.

The purpose of the present study was to calculate the cost-effectiveness of the inclusion of the bevacizumab (BVZ) + irinotecan (CPT-11) regimen in the second-line of treatment for primary glioblastoma multiforme. A retrospective cohort study with a control group was performed in which the cost-effectiveness of a course of chemotherapy was calculated based on survival time and the incremental cost between the two lines of treatment. A total of 77 patients were included, 36 of who formed the BVZ/CPT-11 cohort. The median survival time for the non-BVZ control cohort was 13.23 months [95% confidence interval (CI), 11.79-14.68], while for the BVZ/CPT-11 treatment cohort, the median survival time was 17.63 months (95% CI, 15.38-19.89). Overall, each year of life gained for each patient treated with BVZ/CPT-11 would cost €46,401.99. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of the BVZ/CPT-11 combination, but its incremental cost compared with other lines of treatment or the best care available does not appear to be acceptable for public health systems in the current situation of budgetary adjustments.

Effectiveness of the bevacizumab-irinotecan regimen in the treatment of recurrent glioblastoma multiforme: Comparison with other second-line treatments without this regimen.

A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyse the effectiveness of bevacizumab and irinotecan (BVZ/CPT-11) as a second-line treatment in patients with primary glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) in comparison with a control group that were not administered BVZ/CPT-11 at the first recurrence. The difference in overall survival (OS) between the two groups was used as a predictor of effectiveness. OS was calculated according to prognostic factors and gender. A total of 28 and 32 patients were enrolled in the BVZ/CPT-11 cohort and control group, respectively. The median OS was 17.94 months (95% CI, 14.91-20.96) in the BVZ/CPT-11 treatment cohort and 10.97 months (95% CI, 7.65-14.30) in the control cohort. The results obtained on the effectiveness of BVZ/CPT-11 treatment in patients with primary GBM are consistent with data from previous studies. No significant differences were identified in OS based on prognostic factors; therefore, the latter cannot be used to select patients who would incur the greatest benefits from BVZ/CPT-11 treatment.