Telegraph (KC) 14-Sep-08
From Kidney Cancer Resource
Go Back To Telegraph (KC)
Rationed kidney cancer drugs can lengthen survival
Two cancer drugs which were controversially rejected by the NHS's rationing body can triple patients' length of survival, new research has shown.
By Laura Donnelly, Health Correspondent
Last Updated: 7:18PM BST 13 Sep 2008
Patients with advanced kidney cancer who were given the drugs sunitib and sorafenib survived for an average of 22 months, compared with patients who were refused the drug, who died after seven months.
Last month, interim guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) rejected both drugs as not being worth their annual costs, which range from £26,000 to £36,000 per patient.
Nice admitted that the treatments had shown some promise in slowing disease progression, but said data was "immature", partly because patients given a placebo drug in trials were allowed to switch groups once the benefits of the treatments became apparent.
The decision was roundly attacked by cancer charities, as well as doctors.
Cancer Research UK said that the guidance was "very frustrating" for patients who had very few options left, while Macmillan Cancer described the decision as "extremely disappointing".
A new study of 80 patients treated in Birmingham Hospitals compared the fate of 40 who were given the drugs for advanced kidney cancer with 40 whose requests for funding were denied. Patients who were given NHS funding for the drugs, or bought them themselves, lived three times as long as those who were denied them.
Nick James, professor of clinical oncology at the Cancer Research UK Institute for Cancer Studies, who led the research, said that the results provided "a stark picture of the cost of the postcode lottery in cancer care".
He said: "It seems very wrong to me that Nice can reject these drugs as not being cost-effective, when its own guidance accepts the weaknesses of the trials."
Prof James, a consultant at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, is one of 26 cancer specialists who recently wrote a letter criticising the recommendation. It accused Nice of getting its sums wrong and called for radical changes to the way rationing decisions were taken.
"Every day we are facing patients who are angry and upset because they have just been diagnosed with metastatic cancer [cancer where tumours have spread to other parts of the body], only to be told that there is a treatment, but they may not be able to get it on the NHS. It is a nightmare that we face every day."
He described the drugs sunitib, marketed as Sutent, and sorafenib, branded Nexavar, as "the only hope" to prolong the lives of patients who have reached the advanced stage of kidney cancer.
Prof Peter Littlejohns, the clinical and public health director of Nice, said: "The decisions Nice has to make are some of the hardest in public life. NHS resources are not limitless and Nice has to decide what treatments represent best value to the patient as well as the NHS.
"Although these treatments are clinically effective, regrettably, the cost to the NHS is such that they are not a cost-effective use of resources."
To View The Original Article Click Here
Disclaimer
Kidney Cancer Resource (KCR) is not influenced by sponsors. The information contained herein is not intended as a substitute for the advice of an appropriately qualified and licensed physician or other licensed health care provider. The information provided here is for educational and information purposes only. Early accurate Diagnosis (Dx.) saves lives. Please check with a physician if you suspect you are ill, never ignore Symptoms. To help your health care specialist make an accurate Diagnosis please keep notes of dates, times and details of your Symptoms. We are not offering medical advice nor do we consider links, individuals or articles accessed through this site to be offering medical advice.
E&OE - Errors & Omissions Excepted
As much of the information posted on this Web Site for peoples convenience is of a medical or technical nature, and may be a matter of life or death the E&OE is a Disclaimer showing that to the best of our ability information is accurate and correctly written or transcribed. Before acting on information on this site you are responsible for checking it with your relevant medical team. We can not be held responsible for any Errors & Omissions made; nor for information on links and articles provided in good faith.
