HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Insurance Company Does Not Want to approve TYKERB

Lani · 10-10-2009, 10:25 AM

fresh off the press article--perhaps will help your oncologist with your appeal. Next to last sentence shows those who have previously received capecitabine had shorter DFS and OS when given the lapatinib/capecitabine combo than those who had not.

Ann Oncol. 2009 Oct 8. [Epub ahead of print]

An open-label expanded access study of lapatinib and capecitabine in patients with HER2-overexpressing locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer.

Capri G, Chang J, Chen SC, Conte P, Cwiertka K, Jerusalem G, Jiang Z, Johnston S, Kaufman B, Link J, Ro J, Schütte J, Oliva C,Parikh R, Preston A, Rosenlund J, Selzer M, Zembryki D, De Placido S.
Department of Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Tumori, Milano, Italy.
BACKGROUND: The Lapatinib Expanded Access Program (LEAP) was designed to provide access to lapatinib plus capecitabine for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer patients who previously received an anthracycline, a taxane, and a trastuzumab and had no other treatment options. PATIENTS AND METHODS: LEAP opened globally and enrollment continued until lapatinib received regulatory approval in each participating country. Patients were assessed for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) and monitored for serious adverse events (SAEs). RESULTS: As of 30 September 2008, 4283 patients from 45 countries enrolled in LEAP. The median treatment duration was 24.7 weeks. The most common drug-related SAEs were diarrhea (9.7%), vomiting (4.3%), and nausea (2.4%) and were mainly grade 3 or higher. The incidences of special interest SAEs were decreased left ventricle ejection fraction (0.5%), interstitial lung disease/pneumonitis (0.2%), and serious hepatobiliary events (0.4%). This safety profile is consistent with the overall lapatinib program. The median PFS and OS were 21.1 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 20.1-22.3] and 39.6 (95% CI = 37.7-40.7) weeks, respectively (n = 4006). Subgroup analysis showed longer PFS and OS in patients who had not received prior capecitabine. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate the safety and efficacy of lapatinib in a broader patient population compared with a clinical trial.PMID: 19815649

10-10-2009, 10:25 AM	#34
Lani Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 4,778	Re: Insurance Company Does Not Want to approve TYKERB fresh off the press article--perhaps will help your oncologist with your appeal. Next to last sentence shows those who have previously received capecitabine had shorter DFS and OS when given the lapatinib/capecitabine combo than those who had not. Ann Oncol. 2009 Oct 8. [Epub ahead of print] An open-label expanded access study of lapatinib and capecitabine in patients with HER2-overexpressing locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. Capri G, Chang J, Chen SC, Conte P, Cwiertka K, Jerusalem G, Jiang Z, Johnston S, Kaufman B, Link J, Ro J, Schütte J, Oliva C,Parikh R, Preston A, Rosenlund J, Selzer M, Zembryki D, De Placido S. Department of Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Tumori, Milano, Italy. BACKGROUND: The Lapatinib Expanded Access Program (LEAP) was designed to provide access to lapatinib plus capecitabine for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer patients who previously received an anthracycline, a taxane, and a trastuzumab and had no other treatment options. PATIENTS AND METHODS: LEAP opened globally and enrollment continued until lapatinib received regulatory approval in each participating country. Patients were assessed for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) and monitored for serious adverse events (SAEs). RESULTS: As of 30 September 2008, 4283 patients from 45 countries enrolled in LEAP. The median treatment duration was 24.7 weeks. The most common drug-related SAEs were diarrhea (9.7%), vomiting (4.3%), and nausea (2.4%) and were mainly grade 3 or higher. The incidences of special interest SAEs were decreased left ventricle ejection fraction (0.5%), interstitial lung disease/pneumonitis (0.2%), and serious hepatobiliary events (0.4%). This safety profile is consistent with the overall lapatinib program. The median PFS and OS were 21.1 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 20.1-22.3] and 39.6 (95% CI = 37.7-40.7) weeks, respectively (n = 4006). Subgroup analysis showed longer PFS and OS in patients who had not received prior capecitabine. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate the safety and efficacy of lapatinib in a broader patient population compared with a clinical trial.PMID: 19815649