Findings from University of Texas Health Science Center Broaden Understanding of Lung Cancer (Use of Hematopoietic Growth Factors in Elderly Lung…

Findings from University of Texas Health Science Center Broaden Understanding of Lung Cancer (Use of Hematopoietic Growth Factors in Elderly Lung Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy A SEER-Medicare-based Study)

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Weekly News -- Current study results on Oncology - Lung Cancer have been published. According to news reporting originating from Houston, Texas, by VerticalNews correspondents, research stated, "Hematopoietic growth factors (HGFs) are essential for successful completion of chemotherapy in lung cancer patients. However, because of their adverse effects, clinical guidelines recommend their use in only selective clinical scenarios."

Our news editors obtained a quote from the research from the University of Texas Health Science Center, "This study, for the first time, explores patient characteristics and temporal trends associated with HGF utilization among elderly lung cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. This is a retrospective analysis of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare linked data containing 80,940 patients, aged 65 years and older, diagnosed with stage I to TV lung cancer between 1992 and 2009, and who received chemotherapy. Descriptive statistics and logistic regressions were used to examine the characteristics associated with 2 types of HGFs colony stimulating factors (CSFs) and erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs). Twenty-five percent of the patients received CSFs and 42% received ESAs. Temporal variations were most predictive of HGF utilization, with an increase from 2.6% in 1992 to 47.3% in 2009 for CSFs and 1.3% to 30.5% for ESAs. Higher chemotherapy-based risk profiles increased the odds of HGF receipt 2 to 3 times (P <0.0001). Even after controlling for relevant clinical characteristics, unexplained sociodemographic associations persisted, suggesting lack of compliance with HGF guidelines. There has been a significant increase in the use of HGFs over time. Although chemotherapy-based risk profiles were significant predictors of HGF receipt, the study results suggest possible lack of compliance with treatment guidelines, which should be investigated."

According to the news editors, the research concluded: "Given the high cost of HGFs, future studies are also needed to determine cost-effectiveness of these drugs among lung cancer patients."

For more information on this research see: Use of Hematopoietic Growth Factors in Elderly Lung Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy A SEER-Medicare-based Study. American Journal of Clinical Oncology-Cancer Clinical Trials, 2017;40(1):66-74. American Journal of Clinical Oncology-Cancer Clinical Trials can be contacted at: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Two Commerce Sq, 2001 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19103, USA.

The news editors report that additional information may be obtained by contacting S.S. Rajag, Univ Texas Hlth Sci Center Houston, Sch Public Hlth, Center Hlth Serv Res, Houston, TX 77030, United States. Additional authors for this research include Y. Ca, M. Yi, C.L. Tsai and X.L. Du.

Keywords for this news article include: Houston, Texas, United States, North and Central America, Medicare, Epidemiology, Drugs and Therapies, Lung Neoplasms, Health Policy, Hematopoietic, Chemotherapy, Lung Cancer, Hematology, Oncology, University of Texas Health Science Center.

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